Sunken Bayesian superyacht raised from seabed near Sicily

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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.

Peter Byrne/PA Wire The ship’s name is barely visible on its stern

Previous salvage efforts to raise the boat were delayed after a diver died while working on the operation last month. Also in May, an investigation led by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found that gusts 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.

Peter Byrne/PA Wire A salvage operation is pumping water out of the ship before checks are carried out

Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others died when the Bayesian yacht sank off Porticello, near Palermo, in August 2024. 15 others survived. Italian authorities are continuing to conduct a full criminal investigation.

A British-flagged luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing British tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, was lifted from the water on Saturday.

Salvage recovery crews completed the complex operation to bring the Bayesian yacht ashore for further investigation.

One of Europe’s most powerful maritime cranes hauled the 56-meter-long (184-foot) luxury yacht from beneath the waves during the day.

The salvage team, led by British company TMC Marine, pumped seawater out of the hull and the vessel was held in an elevated position, surrounded by pollution containment booms, while further checks were carried out.

The Bayesian’s upper decks appeared badly damaged while the blue hull was encrusted with mud after it had sat on the seabed at a depth of 50 meters

“The hull of the superyacht Bayesian has today been successfully and safely recovered from the sea off the coast of northern Sicily,” said TMC Maritime. “This follows a delicate lifting procedure that began early today.”

Mike Lynch was celebrating his acquittal of fraud charges Image: Salvatore Cavalli/AP Photo/picture alliance

Three-day process to lift yacht off seabed

The vessel has been slowly raised from the seabed, 50 meters below the surface, over the past three days to allow the steel lifting straps, slings and harnesses to be secured under the keel.

Eight steel lifting straps were used to put the hull upright and to form part of a steel wire lifting system that began raising the vessel out of the water on Saturday.

The Bayesian was missing its 72-meter (236-foot) mast, which was cut off and left on the seabed for future removal. The mast had to be detached to allow the hull to be brought to a nearly upright position that would allow the craft to be raised.

The floating crane platform will now move the Bayesian to the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese on Sunday, where a special steel cradle is waiting for it.

The vessel will then be made available for investigators to help determine the cause of the sinking.

The captain and all the crew survived the sinking, apart from the chef Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire/dpa/picture alliance

Five killed when Bayesian sank

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 United States on fraud charges.

The 59-year-old sold Autonomy, a software maker he founded in 1996, to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion in 2011, and was acquitted of fraud charges in June 2024 by a federal court jury in San Francisco.

Lynch, his daughter and five others died while fifteen people survived, including the captain and all crew members except the chef.

Italian authorities are continuing to conduct a full criminal investigation.

Edited by Sean Sinico

A luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, was recovered and transported for investigation.

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A British-flagged luxury superyacht, the Bayesian, made headlines after it sank off Sicily last year, resulting in the tragic deaths of UK tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others. On Sunday, the vessel completed its final journey to Termini Imerese, following a complex recovery operation that concluded just a day earlier.

6 Key Takeaways British superyacht sank off Sicily last year.

Mike Lynch and six others died.

Recovery operation completed at Termini Imerese.

Vessel raised from 50 meters deep.

Investigators examining cause of sinking.

Extreme winds led to yacht’s capsizing.

The 56-meter yacht, covered in algae and mud, was raised from the seabed to be transported for further investigation. This incident, which occurred on August 19, 2022, during a violent storm, raises critical questions about safety regulations in maritime travel. As recovery crews worked diligently, the yacht was secured in a specially built cradle for examination.

As investigators continue their work, the cause of the sinking remains a focal point. The Bayesian’s crew had sought shelter from forecast thunderstorms when extreme winds unexpectedly struck, leading to its tragic demise. What measures can be taken to prevent such disasters in the future?

Fast Answer: The recovery of the sunken superyacht Bayesian highlights ongoing concerns about maritime safety, especially regarding extreme weather conditions and vessel preparedness.

This incident underscores the importance of stringent safety protocols in the luxury yacht industry. With the increasing frequency of severe weather events, how can the industry adapt to ensure passenger safety?

Extreme weather poses significant risks to maritime travel.

Investigations may lead to stricter regulations for luxury vessels.

Survivor accounts highlight the need for improved emergency procedures.

The sinking of the Bayesian serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of maritime conditions and the importance of safety in luxury travel.

As investigations unfold, stakeholders in the maritime industry must prioritize safety and preparedness to prevent future tragedies. Will this incident lead to meaningful change?

A British-flagged luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing UK tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, has completed its final trip to the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese, a day after recovery crews finalised the complex operation to lift it out of the water.

The white top and blue hull of the 56-metre Bayesian, covered with algae and mud, was kept elevated by the yellow floating crane barge off the port of Porticello, before being transferred to Termini Imerese, where it docked in the early afternoon (local time).

Tomorrow, the delicate recovery operation will be concluded, as the vessel will be transported to shore and settled in a specially built steel cradle.

Then it will be made available for investigators for further examinations to help determine the cause of the sinking.

The Bayesian sank 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.

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Fifteen people survived the sinking of the British tech magnate’s vessel, including the Kiwi captain and all crew members except the chef.

Italian authorities are conducting a full criminal investigation.

The vessel was slowly raised from the seabed 50 metres deep over three days to allow the steel lifting straps, slings and harnesses to be secured under the keel.

The Bayesian is missing its 72-metre mast, which was cut off and left on the seabed for future removal. The mast had to be detached to allow the hull to be brought to a nearly upright position that would allow the craft to be raised.

British investigators said in an interim report issued last month that the yacht was knocked over by “extreme wind” and couldn’t recover.

The report said the crew of the Bayesian had chosen the site where it sank as shelter from forecast thunderstorms. Wind speeds exceeded 70 knots at the time of the sinking and “violently” knocked the vessel over to a 90-degree angle in under 15 seconds.

ROME: A British-flagged luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing UK tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, partially resurfaced Saturday as salvage recovery crews finalized the complex operation to bring it ashore for further investigation.

The white top and blue hull of the 56-meter (184-foot) Bayesian was visible on the surface but was not clear off the sea yet in a holding area of a yellow floating crane barge.

“Pumping out of sea water will continue and it will be lunchtime, following a series of lifting and resting procedures to satisfy the salvage team, before Bayesian is fully and finally out of the water,” said David Wilson, spokesman for TMC Maritime, which is conducting the recovery operation.

The Bayesian sank Aug. 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 U.S. on fraud charges. Lynch, his daughter and five others died. Fifteen people survived, including the captain and all crew members except the chef.

Italian authorities are conducting a full criminal investigation.

TMC Maritime said the vessel has been slowly raised from the seabed, 50 meters (165-feet) down, over the past three days to allow the steel lifting straps, slings and harnesses to be secured under the keel.

Eight steel lifting straps are being used to support the hull upright and to form part of a steel wire lifting system that began raising the vessel out of the water Saturday. As it is lifted up, sea water is pumped out of the hull.

TMC Maritime said the vessel will be held upright, out of the water, for checks and preparations for its final journey.

On Sunday, it is anticipated the floating crane platform will move the Bayesian to the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese, where a special steel cradle is waiting for it.

The Bayesian is missing its 72-meter (236-foot) mast, which was cut off and left on the seabed for future removal. The mast had to be detached to allow the hull to be brought to a nearly upright position that would allow the craft to be raised.

British investigators said in an interim report issued last month that the yacht was knocked over by “extreme wind” and couldn’t recover.

The report said the Bayesian had chosen the site where it sank as shelter from forecast thunderstorms. Wind speeds exceeded 70 knots (81 mph) at the time of the sinking and “violently” knocked the vessel over to a 90-degree angle in under 15 seconds.

Lynch, who sold Autonomy, a software maker he founded in 1996, to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion in 2011, had been acquitted on fraud charges in June 2024 by a federal court jury in San Francisco.