Tech tycoon Lynch’s doomed Bayesian yacht lifted to surface
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Belarus opposition leader freed from jail in US-brokered deal
Belarus opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 other prisoners have been released from jail and are now free in Lithuania. Release brokered by U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg, a spokesperson for Lithuania’s prime minister said. Kellogg earlier met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the country’s state news agency Belta said. The release was “fantastic news and a powerful symbol of hope for all the political prisoners suffering under the brutal Lukashenka (sic) regime,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X. A Belarus court in 2021 found Syarhi Tsikhanski, a 43-year-old video blogger, guilty of organising mass unrest and of inciting social hatred, and handed him one of the longest jail terms in modern Belarusian history. His supporters said the charges were fabricated and politically motivated, and his wife called the verdict political revenge.
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Companies Release brokered by US special envoy Kellogg, Lithuania PM’s spokesperson says
Tsikhanouski’s wife thanks Trump, Kellogg
Kellogg met with Belarusian President Lukashenko, Belta agency said
VILNIUS, June 21 (Reuters) – Belarus opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski and 13 other prisoners have been released from jail and are now free in Lithuania, the neighbouring country’s government said.
The release was brokered by U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg, a spokesperson for Lithuania’s prime minister said.
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Kellogg earlier met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the country’s state news agency Belta said.
Tsikhanouski’s wife Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in a post on social media platform X thanked U.S. President Donald Trump as well as Kellogg and others for their efforts to secure her husband’s release.
“We’re not done,” Tsikhanouskaya wrote on her X account, calling for the release of a further 1,150 prisoners.
Siarhei was seen emerging from a van with a shaven head, smiling and immediately stepping up to hug his wife in a long embrace, a video released by her office showed.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that Kellogg, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Belarus in years, saw his mission as one that could help jump-start peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“President Trump encouraged this trip,” Kellogg’s deputy John Coale said in a video posted on his account on X.
Five Belarus nationals were released along with three Poles, two Latvians, two Japanese citizens, one Estonian and one Swede, Lithuania said.
Among those released by Belarus was Ihar Karnei, a former journalist at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said in a statement thanking Trump, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others.
“We thank Secretary Rubio and his team, the Lithuanian government, and the international community for their support of our imprisoned journalists,” he added.
VON DER LEYEN, POLAND WELCOME THE RELEASE
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X that the release was “fantastic news and a powerful symbol of hope for all the political prisoners suffering under the brutal Lukashenka (sic) regime”.
“The free world needs you, Siarhei!”, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on X.
A Belarus court in 2021 found Syarhei Tsikhanouski, a 43-year-old video blogger, guilty of organising mass unrest and of inciting social hatred, and handed him one of the longest jail terms in modern Belarusian history.
His supporters said the charges were fabricated and politically motivated, and his wife has called the verdict political revenge.
His wife ran in the elections in his place, and mass protests broke out after Lukashenko said he’d won the elections. Tsikhanouskaya has since left the country for exile in Lithuania.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why Kellogg travelled to Minsk and met with Lukashenko.
Reporting by Andrius Sytas; Additional reporting by Fylyp Lebediev and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Terje Solsvik, Mark Potter, Franklin Paul and Emelia Sithole-Matarise
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Tech tycoon Lynch’s superyacht Bayesian lifted from water off Sicily coast
The Bayesian was moored off the small port of Porticello, near Palermo, in August last year when it sank during a sudden storm. The yacht was vulnerable to violent winds and was probably knocked over by gusts of more than 117 km (73 miles) per hour, an interim British report said last month. Italian authorities in the nearby port of Termini Imerese will have a chance to inspect the luxury yacht next week as they seek clues into a tragedy that has puzzled maritime experts. The plan is for the yacht to be carried to port on Sunday before it is lifted on Monday on to a specially manufactured steel cradle on the quayside. The Bayesian’s upper decks appeared badly damaged while the hull was encrusted with mud after it had lain on the seabed at a depth of 50 metres.
Yacht sank during sudden storm with powerful windsInspection to seek clues into tragedy that puzzled experts
PORTICELLO, Italy, June 21 (Reuters) – Salvage experts hauled British tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht from the water on Saturday and plan to take it to a Sicilian port for inspection, 10 months after it sank off the coast of Sicily, killing Lynch, his teenage daughter and five others.
Work had resumed at first light, with one of the most powerful maritime cranes in Europe used to haul the 56-metre-long (184-foot) Bayesian from beneath the waves.
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The Bayesian’s upper decks appeared badly damaged while the blue hull was encrusted with mud after it had lain on the seabed at a depth of 50 metres.
Italian authorities in the nearby port of Termini Imerese will have a chance to inspect the luxury yacht next week as they seek clues into a tragedy that has puzzled maritime experts.
The Bayesian was moored off the small port of Porticello, near Palermo, in August last year when it sank during a sudden storm. The yacht was vulnerable to violent winds and was probably knocked over by gusts of more than 117 km (73 miles) per hour, an interim British report said last month.
Item 1 of 5 Seawater is pumped out of the wreckage of the ‘Bayesian’ yacht, owned by the late British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, as it is recovered by the floating crane ships HEBO LIFT 10 and HEBO LIFT 2 off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, Sicily, Italy, June 21, 2025. REUTERS/Igor Petyx [1/5] Seawater is pumped out of the wreckage of the ‘Bayesian’ yacht, owned by the late British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, as it is recovered by the floating crane ships HEBO LIFT 10 and HEBO LIFT 2 off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, Sicily, Italy, June 21, 2025. REUTERS/Igor Petyx Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab
The salvage team, led by British company TMC Marine, pumped sea water out of the hull and the vessel was held in an elevated position, surrounded by pollution containment booms, while further checks were carried out.
“This was a complex and precise lifting operation to recover Bayesian, and followed a step-by-step programme of salvage work,” said Marcus Cave, a director of TMC Marine.
The plan is for the yacht to be carried to port on Sunday before it is lifted on Monday on to a specially manufactured steel cradle on the quayside.
The recovery process has been made easier after the vessel’s 72-metre mast was detached using a remote-controlled cutting tool and placed on the seabed on Tuesday.
In addition to Lynch, founder of the software company Autonomy, his daughter Hannah, lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, banker Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, and chef Recaldo Thomas were killed when the yacht sank. Nine other crew members and six guests were rescued.
Reporting by Roberto Mignucci; Additional reporting by Wladimir Pantaleone, Danilo Arnone, Igor Petyx and Rosaura Bonafardino; Writing by Keith Weir; Editing by William Mallard
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Tech Tycoon Lynch’s Doomed Bayesian Yacht Resurfaces, Unveiling Secrets of Wealth and Innovation
The ‘Bayesian’ yacht, owned by Mike Lynch, was recovered off Sicily after sinking, killing him and six others during a storm. The Bayesian sank during a sudden storm, likely due to violent winds exceeding 117 km/h (73 mph), as reported in an interim British investigation. The recovery of Mike Lynch’s yacht highlights maritime safety concerns, as investigations continue into the tragic sinking that resulted in multiple fatalities.
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The recovery of the sunken superyacht Bayesian, owned by the late British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, has drawn global attention. On June 21, 2025, salvage experts successfully lifted the 56-meter vessel from the depths off the coast of Sicily, where it tragically sank ten months prior, claiming the lives of Lynch, his daughter, and five others.
6 Key Takeaways Yacht “Bayesian” recovered off Sicily coast
Mike Lynch and family perished in sinking
Salvage operation used powerful maritime cranes
Vessel sustained significant upper deck damage
Investigations ongoing into the sinking incident
Mast detached to facilitate recovery process
Using one of Europe’s most powerful maritime cranes, the operation revealed extensive damage to the yacht’s upper decks, with its blue hull encrusted in mud. The Bayesian sank during a sudden storm, likely due to violent winds exceeding 117 km/h (73 mph), as reported in an interim British investigation.
Fast Answer: The recovery of Mike Lynch’s yacht highlights maritime safety concerns, as investigations continue into the tragic sinking that resulted in multiple fatalities.
This incident raises critical questions about yacht safety and preparedness during severe weather. How can yacht owners better protect their vessels? What regulations can be improved to enhance maritime safety?
Salvage operations are ongoing, with the yacht expected to be transported for further investigation.
The recovery process was aided by the detachment of the yacht’s 72-meter mast.
Survivors from the incident included nine crew members and six guests.
The tragic sinking of the Bayesian underscores the need for enhanced safety measures in maritime operations worldwide.
As investigations proceed, it is crucial for the maritime community to reflect on safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Mike Lynch’s superyacht seen on the surface for the first time since it sank
Mike Lynch’s superyacht seen on the surface for the first time since it sank. Tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s supery yacht the Bayesian was raised from the seabed off the coast of Sicily on Friday. Salvage workers say there was 18,000 litres of fuel on board the yacht. The 56-metre (184ft) Bayesian is now being pumped of water and can be seen upright on the. surface. It sank in August 2024, killing billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, as well as seven others. The yacht had a vulnerability to winds but the owner and crew would not have known, the report said. It is believed the wreck will be taken to nearby Termini Imerese on Monday – where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based. The full word “Bayesian” can now seen on. the stern of the yacht, with the word ‘Yacht’ written on the side of the vessel.
Tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht the Bayesian is lifted to the surface near the fishing town of Porticello, Sicily. Picture date: Saturday June 21, 2025. Picture: Alamy
By Alice Brooker
Water is being pumped from Mike Lynch’s superyacht as it was seen upright on the surface for the first time since it sank off the coast of Sicily.
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Tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s sunken superyacht was raised from the seabed off the coast of Sicily on Friday.
The full word “Bayesian” can now seen on the stern of the yacht. Salvage workers say there was 18,000 litres of fuel on board.
The 56-metre (184ft) Bayesian is now being pumped of water and can be seen upright on the surface for the first time since it sank in August 2024, killing billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, as well as seven others.
The boat was lifted to the surface near the fishing town of Porticello on Friday.
A project insider said balloon-like kit will be used to lift the Bayesian’s mast.
Read More: ‘Serious concerns about a string of failures’: Family of Bayesian superyacht victim hit-out after sinking report
Read More: First pieces of tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht emerge from seabed after sinking tragedy
Water is pumped off Tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht the Bayesian as it is lifted to the surface near the fishing town of Porticello, Sicily. Picture: Alamy
He told the PA news agency: “Lifting bags will be used on the mast, but this will not start until Tuesday or Wednesday.
“In the interim, the salvors on-site not accompanying Bayesian to port will be conducting a full sweep of the seabed site for any potential debris.”
Meanwhile, Michele Maltese, of the Italian Coastguard, told reporters on Saturday that thermal cameras are being used to check for any potential fuel leaks.
A local law investigator is also at the scene, he said.
A crowd of onlookers gathered on the shore at the fishing village of Porticello on Friday as the white top and blue hull of the vessel rose from the depths.
Investigators in the UK and Italy say raising the vessel is crucial to fully understanding what happened.
It is believed the wreck will be taken to nearby Termini Imerese on Monday – where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based.
Last week, salvage teams expected the boat to be raised later in June, but thanks to “accelerated progress”, the timeline was brought forward.
Mike Lynch lwas a billionaire tech tycoon. Picture: Alamy
Marcus Cave of British firm TMC Marine, which is overseeing the salvage efforts, said: “The complex work to safely recover the Bayesian has been progressed quickly in the past week by the contractors’ personnel.
“Over the coming days, all going well, the vessel’s final recovery will take place this weekend and lead to her ultimate safe delivery to the authorities in Termini Imerese.”
Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals.
Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigators said in an interim report that the Bayesian was knocked over by “extreme wind”.
The yacht had a vulnerability to winds but the owner and crew would not have known, the report said.
Italian emergency services in August 2024, after tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht the Bayesian sank in a storm whilst moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello, Sicily. Picture: Alamy
The others who died in the sinking were US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel.Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued.
Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks in Kent.
The tycoon founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was cleared in June last year of carrying out a massive fraud over the sale of the firm to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.
The boat trip was a celebration of his acquittal in the case in the US.
UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s doomed Bayesian superyacht lifted out of water
The Bayesian sank on August 19 off Porticello, near Palermo, during a violent storm. UK tech magnate Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others died. Fifteen people survived, including the captain and all crew members except the chef.
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The white top and blue hull of the 56-metre (184-foot) Bayesian, covered with algae and mud, was visible clear of the sea in a holding area of a yellow floating crane barge.
The local coastguard said the lifting operation will be followed by some technical tests on the hull. On Sunday, the vessel will be transported to the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese, where it will be made available for investigators to help determine the cause of the sinking.
The Bayesian sank on August 19 off Porticello, near Palermo, during a violent storm as Lynch was treating friends to a cruise to celebrate his acquittal two months earlier in the US on fraud charges.
Lynch, his daughter and five others died. Fifteen people survived, including the captain and all crew members except the chef.
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Italian authorities are conducting a full criminal investigation.