Watch: Superyacht That Sank Off Sicily Raised To Surface After 10 Months

Salvage teams in Italy have lifted the wreckage of the luxury superyacht “Bayesian” from the seabed off Sicily, ten months after it sank during a violent storm that killed British tech billionaire Mike Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, and five others.

The 56-meter yacht was raised on Friday, June 20, near the fishing village of Porticello, close to Palermo, after weeks of complex underwater operations. The vessel had been lying 50 meters below the surface since the early morning of August 19, 2024

According to investigators, the yacht was struck by a powerful storm while it was anchored. The vessel began to sink within minutes, leaving no time for a coordinated evacuation. At the time, 22 people were aboard, including 10 guests and 12 crew members. Only 15 survived.

Among the dead were: Mike Lynch, 59, founder of software giant Autonomy; Hannah Lynch, 18, Mike’s daughter; Jonathan Bloomer, 70, chairman of Morgan Stanley International; Judy Bloomer, 71, his wife; Chris Morvillo, an American lawyer; Neda Morvillo, his wife; Recaldo Thomas, a chef with dual Canadian and Antiguan citizenship.

The surviving passengers included Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, and several crew members.

The trip had been arranged by Lynch to celebrate his acquittal in a major U.S. fraud case involving the 2011 sale of his company to Hewlett-Packard. He was cleared in June 2024, just weeks before the voyage.

Video Credits: DRM News/YouTube

The vessel’s unusually tall mast, measuring 72 meters, was found to be a factor in the accident. According to a recent interim report by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), the mast’s aerodynamic shape created lift in high winds, which increased the yacht’s tilt. The report added that this design vulnerability was not likely known to the owner or crew.

TMC Marine, the British salvage company overseeing the recovery, led the operation with support from Dutch specialists Hebo Maritimeservice. The mast was first detached using a remote-controlled cutting tool and lowered to the seabed on Tuesday. This helped stabilise the hull for lifting.

The final hoisting process involved steel wire arrangements connected to a floating crane barge. Additional support was added to the cables, as the vessel was expected to become significantly heavier once fully out of the water.

On Friday, bystanders in Porticello watched as the white superstructure and blue hull of the Bayesian slowly surfaced. The yacht, now upright and partially pumped of water, is expected to be towed to the port of Termini Imerese on Monday.

Authorities say lifting the wreck is important to understand what went wrong. Both UK and Italian investigators are examining the evidence. Italian prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation, charging the vessel’s captain and two others with suspected manslaughter and negligent shipwreck.

Thermal cameras are being used to check for any fuel leaks. A local legal officer is also present to monitor developments.

The recovery was briefly paused last month after the death of a diver involved in the operation. Despite this setback, salvage work resumed in May and progressed faster than expected.

One of the salvage crew told British media that lifting bags would be used next week to retrieve the detached mast from the seabed. Meanwhile, divers will continue scanning the site to collect any remaining debris.

References: Reuters, channelnewsasia

Source: Maritime Shipping News