The superyacht “Bayesian” is salvaged. Photo: Salvatore Cavalli/AP/dpa
Keystone
Ten months after the superyacht “Bayesian” sank off the coast of the Italian Mediterranean island of Sicily, the wreck has now been salvaged. The local coastguard is coordinating the delicate operation off the port town of Porticello, north-east of Palermo. With the help of special cranes, the 56-metre-long sailing yacht was first raised from a depth of around 50 meters. The wreck is currently being pumped empty and stabilized before being towed to the port of Termini Imerese for further investigations.
According to the coastguard, everything is going according to plan. The “Bayesian” will first be lowered slightly to check whether the hull is watertight and then lifted completely out of the water. The ship is then to be brought ashore tomorrow.
The mega yacht, which was declared unsinkable, capsized during a storm in August 2024. Seven people died in the accident, including the owner, British software billionaire Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter. According to a British investigation report, the “Bayesian” was not designed for extreme weather conditions with wind speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour.
Complex – and fatal – rescue
According to the Italian news agency Ansa, the ship is fouled but so far shows no serious damage to the hull. The superstructure was partially damaged by the accident. The yacht’s 72-metre-high mast, which was cut off underwater days ago, is still lying on the seabed; it is due to be salvaged by Monday at the latest, but its transportation is considered “comparatively simple” according to the authorities.
The salvage of the wreck was considered to be technically extremely challenging and was postponed several times. A Dutch diver died during underwater preparations. Since the start of the salvage operation, drones with infrared sensors and patrol boats have been monitoring the area in order to detect environmental hazards at an early stage. According to the authorities, there are around 18,000 liters of fuel in the wreck.
Investigation by the public prosecutor’s office
The Italian public prosecutor’s office is also on site. The aim is to secure evidence and document any construction defects as well as to clarify the cause of the accident. So far, it is investigating the New Zealand captain and two other crew members for possible breaches of duty. They are accused of ignoring storm warnings and taking themselves to safety while leaving passengers behind.