The wreck of the luxurious Bayesian superyacht has surfaced on land in Sicily after being salvaged from the depths where it sank during a storm last summer, tragically claiming the lives of seven onboard, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his teenage daughter. The recovery, costing around $30 million, is essential for Italian prosecutors as they look into the causes behind this disaster.
The investigation commenced immediately after the yacht sunk due to sudden harsh winds, leaving smaller vessels in the vicinity unscathed and puzzling experts about why the Bayesian was so severely impacted. Amidst the salvage efforts, which began in May, a diver was killed in an underwater incident, further complicating the operation that had to switch to remote-controlled submersibles.
The intricate process to lift the 72-meter yacht included cutting its massive aluminum mast to stabilize the hull, allowing a cautious three-day ascent towards the surface. Now resting in the port of Termini Imerese, the battered remains await inspection and forensic testing to determine how the yacht succumbed to nature's fury.
Investigators are particularly interested in examining any potential human errors, design flaws, or even environmental factors contributing to the incident. While some crew members face scrutiny, the prosecution remains tight-lipped about their ongoing inquiries. Meanwhile, reports from maritime investigators noted the yacht's singular mast design could have left it vulnerable to strong winds.
Legal representatives for the victims' families classify this phase of the investigation as crucial, hoping that the examination of the wreck will reveal how water entered and caused the sinking. With eyes focused on uncovering the truth, the retrieval of the Bayesian could be a definitive step towards answering lingering questions about this maritime tragedy.
