A superyacht has been raised from the seabed nearly a year after it sank off the coast of Sicily, killing seven of the 22 people on board. Italian officials said the luxury yacht - known as the Bayesian - would be held up by a crane for a series of inspections requested by the public prosecutor's office. It will later be fully removed from the water. The Bayesian was owned by British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who died in the incident alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and five others. Last month, an ongoing investigation found that Mr Lynch and the crew were unaware of some of the boat's vulnerabilities - including that wind speeds of over 73mph could topple it. Footage from the salvage operation shows the hull of the 56m (183ft) vessel - which looks badly damaged and covered in mud - being lifted up by cranes. In some images, the ship's name can be seen on the stern of the yacht as it is finally lifted above the water. The vessel is expected to be taken to the nearby port of Termini Imerese on Monday, where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based. Previous salvage efforts to raise the boatwere delayed after a diver died while working on the operationlast month. Also in May,an investigation led by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found thatgusts of over 73mph hitting the side of the Bayesian would "likely result" in its capsize. The MAIB used modelling commissioned after the disaster to aid in its preliminary report. It said winds of over 80mph "violently" hit the vessel during the disaster, causing it to flood within seconds. The MAIB said its report was based on a "limited amount of verified evidence" as they did not have access to the wreck at the time. Investigators in the UK and Italy -where criminal investigations are also under way- have said raising the vessel is crucial to fully understanding what happened. The Bayesian had been anchored off the port of a small fishing village, Porticello, when it sank in the early hours of 19 August last year. Witnesses at the time recalledwatching it disappear within "a few minutes" during freak weather. Among the victims were Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah; Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, also died in the sinking. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued.
Tech tycoon Mike Lynch's sunken superyacht raised from seabed near Sicily
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Mike Lynch's Superyacht Bayesian Raised from Seabed Near Sicily Following Fatal Sinking"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
The superyacht Bayesian, owned by British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was successfully raised from the seabed near Sicily nearly a year after it tragically sank, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals out of the 22 aboard. The luxury vessel, measuring 56 meters (183 feet), was lifted by cranes as part of an operation mandated by the public prosecutor's office, which is currently conducting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The yacht was found to be severely damaged and covered in mud, with its name still visible on the stern as it emerged from the water. Following the salvage, the yacht is expected to be transported to Termini Imerese, where Italian prosecutors involved in the case are stationed. The raising of the yacht is seen as a crucial step for investigators in both Italy and the UK, where parallel inquiries into the sinking are underway, aiming to piece together the events that led to the disaster.
The Bayesian sank off the coast of Porticello on August 19 last year during a freak weather event that witnesses described as causing the vessel to disappear within minutes. Notable victims included Mike Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, and several other prominent individuals, including Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife. An investigation by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) indicated that severe wind conditions, with gusts exceeding 80 mph, likely contributed to the yacht's rapid flooding and subsequent capsize. Reports revealed that neither Lynch nor his crew were aware of certain vulnerabilities in the yacht’s design that could lead to such a tragedy in high winds. This ongoing investigation highlights the importance of understanding the specifics of the incident, particularly as previous salvage efforts faced delays, including a recent fatality involving a diver. The recovery of the Bayesian is anticipated to provide critical insights into the events leading up to the catastrophic sinking, which has raised significant questions regarding safety and oversight in luxury maritime travel.
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