A Year After Sinking, Investigations Continue Amidst Multi-Million Dollar Salvage Operation

The British superyacht that sank off Sicily last August, resulting in the deaths of seven people, is scheduled to be lifted from the seabed this weekend. The incident occurred nearly a year ago.

Among the seven fatalities were 59-year-old billionaire tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. The 56-meter (184ft) vessel, named Bayesian, sank off the coast of the Italian island on August 19th.

Various parties, including the boat's manufacturers, Italian prosecutors, British marine investigators, and survivors, have offered differing explanations for the sudden sinking. The boat's captain and two crew members are currently under investigation for manslaughter.

The Bayesian sank in the early hours of August 19th last year, near Palermo, Sicily, after encountering unexpected severe weather. The vessel sank within a mere 16 minutes. There were 22 people on board at the time. A coastguard official reported that while bad weather was anticipated, the intensity was unforeseen, with winds reaching up to 90mph. Subsequent investigations revealed the boat was struck by a mesocyclone, a type of powerful rotating thunderstorm.

Sicilian prosecutors have initiated an inquiry into suspected manslaughter, placing the captain, James Cutfield, and British crew members Tim Parker Eaton and Matthew Griffiths under investigation. Some experts suggest that open hatches and doors left by the crew overnight contributed to the sinking. The owner of the boat, Angela Bacares, has also accused the crew of making questionable decisions.

An interim report from the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) indicated that the vessel's design, specifically its raised centreboard and high mast, might have played a role in the tragedy. The report suggested that the structure could have compromised the boat’s stability. The MAIB report also challenged claims made by the yacht builder, The Italian Sea Group (TISG), regarding the boat's stability.

The Bayesian is set to be recovered this weekend in a multimillion-pound rescue operation. The yacht has been submerged for ten months, with recovery efforts delayed by challenging weather and the death of a Dutch diver involved in the mission. The 184ft boat will be lifted by the Hebo Lift 10 barge, equipped with a powerful maritime crane. Undersea drones have been used to fit a steel sling beneath the Bayesian.