Salvage work off the island of Sicily. Photo: Lo Bianco/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa
Keystone
Ten months after the sinking of the “Bayesian” with seven fatalities, the superyacht has been brought up from the bottom of the Mediterranean.
The wreck was lifted from a depth of 50 meters to the surface with a special crane off the island of Sicily, so that it can now be seen again for the first time. It is to be towed ashore this Saturday. The public prosecutor’s office hopes that the salvage will shed light on why the ship, which was declared unsinkable, was able to sink.
The “Bayesian” was hit by a squall in August last year during a storm as it lay off the coast near the port of Porticello. Among the dead is the British software billionaire Mike Lynch, who also had contacts in the secret service milieu. There is speculation that there may still be important data carriers in a safe on board the sunken ship.
Salvage had been repeatedly delayed
The salvage of the 56-metre-long ship – one of the largest sailing yachts in the world – has been delayed several times in recent weeks. At times, it even had to be interrupted because a diver had a fatal accident while working underwater. Straps have now been placed around the hull of the “Bayesian”. Her 72-metre-long mast was cut off because the already complicated salvage operation would otherwise have been even more difficult. It is to remain at the bottom.
According to a British expert report, the yacht capsized in August last year due to extreme winds at speeds of almost 130 kilometers per hour. The ship was not equipped for such extreme situations – but neither the owner nor the crew were aware of this, according to the report. The “Bayesian” was registered in Great Britain.
Investigation against captain continues
The disaster made headlines around the world. The 18-year-old daughter of the billionaire, two couples who were friends and the ship’s cook also died. With the exception of the chef, the entire crew managed to save themselves. A total of 15 crew members and guests survived, including the billionaire’s wife, who owns the yacht through a company shareholding.
The New Zealand captain and two other crew members are under investigation in Italy. They are accused of ignoring storm warnings and taking themselves to safety without looking after others. It remains to be seen whether the case will go to trial.