Salvage crews pump water from Mike Lynch's superyacht ahead of recovery
Water is being pumped out of the Bayesian superyacht as the British vessel is gradually lifted out of the sea off the coast of Sicily.
The 56-metre (184ft) vessel is expected to be lifted clear of the water on Saturday as part of a 25 million euro (£21 million) operation to recover the wreck for investigators to examine.
It is being cradled by eight steel cables which are attached to a giant crane on board a floating platform called the Hebo Lift 10, brought all the way from the Netherlands.
The yacht sank in a violent storm last August with the loss of seven lives including Mike Lynch, the billionaire British tech businessman and his teenage daughter Hannah.
Journalists and camera crews were taken out to the coast guard ship from the fishing port of Porticello, just half a mile from where the Bayesian capsized 10 months ago.
Over the past few days, salvage teams have worked to ease the hull into an upright position and give access to the yacht's right side, which had previously been lying flat on the seabed 50 metres underwater.
'The Bayesian is on the surface but not clear of the sea as yet,' a spokesman for British salvage company TMC Marine told The Telegraph.
'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.'
Pumping out the water from the Bayesian will make the vessel lighter and easier to manoeuvre, a senior coast guard officer said.
Speaking on the deck of the coast guard ship Diciotti, captain Michele Maltese said the yacht's fuel tanks remain intact, but that thermal cameras are being used to check for any potential fuel leaks.
'We are here to make sure there's no leakage or impact on the environment,' he said.
'Our job is to deliver the yacht to the judicial authorities in the best possible condition.'
The yacht's 72-metre (236ft) mast, which was cut off earlier this week by a remote controlled sub, will be retrieved from the seabed next week.
The battered Bayesian will be transported on Sunday to the port of Termini Imerese along the coast of Sicily.
It was originally expected to be raised last month, but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment.
About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation, which began last month.
Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals.
Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigators said in an interim report that the Bayesian was knocked over by 'extreme wind'.
The yacht had a vulnerability to winds, but the owner, captain and crew would not have known of its inherent structural weaknesses, the report said.
US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, also died.
Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued.
Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks in Kent.
The tycoon founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was cleared in June last year of carrying out a massive fraud over the sale of the firm to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.
The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch's acquittal in the case in the US.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Mike Lynch's superyacht seen on the surface for the first time since it sank
Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off the Italian island on August 19, including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. The 56-metre (184ft) yacht was seen being held in an upright position by one of Europe's most powerful sea cranes near the fishing town of Porticello on Saturday morning. A project insider told the PA news agency: 'The vessel is on surface, but not clear of the sea as yet. 'Pumping out of water will continue, and it will be lunchtime – following a series of lifting and resting procedures – before she will finally be fully and finally out of the water.' Salvage workers could be seen on the vessel, which is covered in mud and algae, while the canopy and guard rails are mangled. The full word 'Bayesian' could be seen on the stern of the yacht, and a ladder which Italian Coastguard officials say was originally on the yacht to allow passengers to disembark was seen cracked and pointed upwards on the starboard side. Also visible on the top deck was the stump of the mast. Salvage workers say there was 18,000 litres of fuel on board. Investigators in the UK and Italy say raising the vessel is crucial to fully understanding what happened. Balloon-like kit will be used to lift the Bayesian's mast, the project insider said. The yacht's 72-metre (236ft) mast was cut off on Tuesday using a remote-controlled tool and rested on the seabed. He told PA: 'Lifting bags will be used on the mast, but this will not start until Tuesday or Wednesday. 'In the interim, the salvors on-site not accompanying Bayesian to port will be conducting a full sweep of the seabed site for any potential debris.' Meanwhile, Michele Maltese, of the Italian Coastguard, told reporters on Saturday that thermal cameras are being used to check for any potential fuel leaks. A local law investigator is also at the scene, he said. Over the last few days, salvage teams have worked to ease the hull into an upright position and give access to the yacht's right side, which had previously been lying flat on the seabed 50 metres below the surface. The vessel is expected to be brought to Termini Imerese – where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based, and on Monday it will be lifted on to a specially made steel cradle on the quayside. It was originally expected to be raised last month, but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation, which began last month. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigators said in an interim report the Bayesian was knocked over by 'extreme wind'. The yacht had a vulnerability to winds, but the owner and crew would not have known, the report said. US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, also died in the sinking. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks in Kent. The tycoon founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was cleared in June last year of carrying out a massive fraud over the sale of the firm to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011. The boat trip was a celebration of his acquittal in the case in the US.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Bayesian: Sunken British superyacht raised from seabed
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 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 Bayesian was owned by British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who died in the incident alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and five 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. Bayesian crew unaware wind speeds of over 73mph could topple yacht, report findsThe 16 minutes that plunged the Bayesian yacht into a deadly spiral 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 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. Previous salvage efforts to raise the boat were delayed after a diver died while working on the operation last 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 said winds of over 80mph "violently" hit the vessel during the disaster, causing it to flood within MAIB said its report was based on a "limited amount of verified evidence" as they did not have access to the wreck at the in the UK and Italy - where criminal investigations are also under way - have said raising the vessel is crucial to fully understanding what happened. The Bayesian had been anchored off the port of a small fishing village, Porticello, when it sank in the early hours of 19 August last at the time recalled watching it disappear within "a few minutes" during freak the victims were Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah; Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, also died in the people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued.
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Mike Lynch's superyacht seen on the surface for the first time since it sank
Water is being pumped from Mike Lynch's superyacht as it was seen upright on the surface for the first time since it sank off the coast of Sicily. Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off the Italian island on August 19, including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. The 56-metre (184ft) yacht was seen being held in an upright position by one of Europe's most powerful sea cranes near the fishing town of Porticello on Saturday morning. A project insider told the PA news agency: 'The vessel is on surface, but not clear of the sea as yet. 'Pumping out of water will continue, and it will be lunchtime – following a series of lifting and resting procedures – before she will finally be fully and finally out of the water.' Salvage workers could be seen on the vessel, which is covered in mud and algae, while the canopy and guard rails are mangled. The full word 'Bayesian' could be seen on the stern of the yacht, and a ladder which Italian Coastguard officials say was originally on the yacht to allow passengers to disembark was seen cracked and pointed upwards on the starboard side. Also visible on the top deck was the stump of the mast. Salvage workers say there was 18,000 litres of fuel on board. Investigators in the UK and Italy say raising the vessel is crucial to fully understanding what happened. Balloon-like kit will be used to lift the Bayesian's mast, the project insider said. The yacht's 72-metre (236ft) mast was cut off on Tuesday using a remote-controlled tool and rested on the seabed. He told PA: 'Lifting bags will be used on the mast, but this will not start until Tuesday or Wednesday. 'In the interim, the salvors on-site not accompanying Bayesian to port will be conducting a full sweep of the seabed site for any potential debris.' Meanwhile, Michele Maltese, of the Italian Coastguard, told reporters on Saturday that thermal cameras are being used to check for any potential fuel leaks. A local law investigator is also at the scene, he said. Over the last few days, salvage teams have worked to ease the hull into an upright position and give access to the yacht's right side, which had previously been lying flat on the seabed 50 metres below the surface. The vessel is expected to be brought to Termini Imerese – where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based, and on Monday it will be lifted on to a specially made steel cradle on the quayside. It was originally expected to be raised last month, but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation, which began last month. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigators said in an interim report the Bayesian was knocked over by 'extreme wind'. The yacht had a vulnerability to winds, but the owner and crew would not have known, the report said. US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, also died in the sinking. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks in Kent. The tycoon founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was cleared in June last year of carrying out a massive fraud over the sale of the firm to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011. The boat trip was a celebration of his acquittal in the case in the US.
