The wreck of the Bayesian, a luxury sailing yacht that sank on the night of August 19, 2024, off the coast of Porticello near Palermo, is set to be recovered in mid-April. The decision was made by the Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor's Office, which established the timeline and method for the operation in collaboration with Coast Guard investigators and lawyers representing the insurance consortium of the company managing the vessel on behalf of the owners.
A Complex Recovery Operation The 65-meter long vessel currently rests at a depth of 49 meters. The recovery will involve a barge, available only in the spring, and will require a delicate operation to cut the 75-meter tall main mast before the hull can be lifted.
An expert assessment by engineer Alessandro Biriaco, a consultant for the Public Prosecutor's Office, has highlighted significant risks in attempting to right the ship with the mast still intact: parts of the rigging are embedded in the seabed, complicating the recovery further.
A Tragic Sinking The sinking of the Bayesian resulted in the deaths of seven people, including the owner, British tycoon Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, the couple Chris and Neda Morvillo, Jonathan and Judy Bloomer, and the ship's cook Recaldo Thomas.
Investigations have led to the registration of the captain, New Zealander James Cutfield, chief engineer Tim Parker Eaton, and Matthew Griffith, who was on watch at the time of the tragedy, in the criminal register for multiple homicides and shipwreck.
Ongoing Investigations into the Cause of the Sinking Authorities are still trying to clarify the causes of the yacht's sinking, which occurred under still unclear circumstances. Some reports suggest the vessel had structural problems or malfunctions that compromised its stability.
The retrieval of the wreck could provide new insights into the investigation, shedding light on the dynamics that led to the tragedy. Meanwhile, the families of the victims await answers and justice for the dramatic night when the Bayesian disappeared into the Sicilian waters.