The wreckage of the 184-foot luxury superyacht Bayesian, which unfortunately sunk off the shore of Porticello, Sicily, on August 19, 2024, leaving seven dead, is to be salvaged over the next few weeks. The yacht, at a depth of around 165 feet, is to be brought up to support continued investigations into the events that led to the tragedy.
Included among the victims were British technology businessman Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah, who were on the yacht celebrating Lynch’s recent acquittal in a lengthy legal battle. The tragedy befell the moored yacht when a brief, intense downburst—a strong, downward-moving air mass—swept across the anchored boat, toppling it and submerging it in minutes.
Investigations confirmed that certain victims died trying to find air pockets inside the sunken vessel, and this could be seen as flaws in emergency response and preparedness. Italian prosecutors are investigating the captain and two crew members of the yacht, pending charges of manslaughter and culpable shipwreck.
The salvage mission, which is expected to start imminently, will attempt to salvage the yacht for a proper forensic analysis. Results of the investigation will play a key role in determining culpability and helping to avoid similar maritime disasters in the future.
