A luxurious superyacht known as the Bayesian was successfully raised from its resting place on the seabed near Sicily after nearly a year submerged, following an incident that led to the tragic deaths of seven individuals out of 22 aboard. Italian authorities notified the public that the vessel, owned by the late British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, will be elevated by a crane for thorough inspections as mandated by the public prosecutor's office before its removal from the water.
The Bayesian, measuring 56 meters (183 feet), was reportedly unaware of significant weaknesses, including its susceptibility to over 73mph wind speeds that could lead to its overturning. Lynch, who perished in the sinking alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, is remembered along with other victims, including British bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife. The vessel sank on August 19 of last year while anchored close to Porticello and witnesses reported a rapid descent amid extreme weather conditions.
Recent investigations, notably a preliminary report by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), revealed that the yacht encountered winds exceeding 80mph during the accident, triggering its rapid flooding. As part of the ongoing inquiry, investigators in both the UK and Italy emphasize the importance of the yacht's recovery to comprehensively understand the disaster's specifics.
The salvage operation, which has faced delays, including a prior tragic incident involving a diver, shows the mud-covered hull of the yacht being elevated from the depths, with its name partially visible as it is hoisted above water. It will be transported to Termini Imerese port, where Italian prosecutors are based, to further analyze the events surrounding the sinking, which devastated many lives and raised critical questions about maritime safety.
