Latest news with #TerminiImerese
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
New photos show state of Mike Lynch's doomed superyacht after salvage mission
New images have emerged revealing the recovered wreckage of Mike Lynch's superyacht, the Bayesian, following a salvage mission off the coast of Sicily. The vessel's sinking on 19 August, 2024 tragically claimed seven lives, including the billionaire businessman, 59, and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. The extensive recovery operation successfully retrieved the 56-metre (184ft) hull, the towering 72-metre (236ft) mast, along with deck furniture and other loose items. These components have now been delivered to Italian authorities in Termini Imerese, Palermo, Sicily, marking the conclusion of the complex salvage effort. Photographs released show the scale of the operation, with boats towing the large white mast through the water, having been lifted near the surface by balloons. Other images depict crews working on both the mast and hull at the quayside, where both appear to be covered in an unexplained brown substance. Marcus Cave, a director at British firm TMC Marine, which oversaw the salvage, confirmed the completion of the project. "The delivery of the hull, mast and other potential materials from Bayesian brought this project to its conclusion," he stated. "We thank the salvage and other teams that were involved in this challenging project, together with the Italian authorities for their professional assistance throughout." The hull was recovered on June 21 and transported around 19 kilometres (12 miles) to Termini Imerese the next day by one of the most powerful floating sea cranes in Europe. On 23 June, it was lifted into heavy steel supports on the quayside, which had tarpaulin underneath to prevent pollution. The cradle was custom-designed to fit the shape of the hull and built in the mast had been detached from the hull for the recovery and was on the seabed. It was salvaged using inflatable lifting balloons and delivered to port on June 25, along with loose items that may have moved away from the vessel during past 10 months. Remote-controlled submersible equipment was used to locate the debris in the vicinity of the Bayesian site. The vessel 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. The materials have been delivered to the Italian authorities and salvage personnel and equipment have subsequently left Sicily. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. 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. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks, Kent.
The Guardian
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Recovered Mike Lynch superyacht transferred to Sicilian town
The superyacht belonging to the late tech tycoon Mike Lynch has been moved to a town in Sicily where British and Italian investigators will examine its sinking. Lynch and his daughter Hannah, 18, were among seven people who died when the Bayesian sank off the Italian coast on 19 August 2024. Salvage teams said on Saturday that they had lifted the vessel 'fully and finally out of the water' for the first time since it sank during a storm. It was taken from the fishing village of Porticello at about 1.10pm local time on Sunday after it was held above the water by one of Europe's most powerful floating sea cranes. The vessel arrived two hours later in Termini Imerese, a town about 12 miles away, where it was due to moved into a specially manufactured steel cradle, which has a tarpaulin underneath for pollution prevention. Italian prosecutors previously said raising and examining the yacht for evidence would provide vital information for its investigation into the sinking. It will also aid the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report on what happened. Simon Graves, an MAIB investigator, previously told the PA news agency: 'When the wreck is brought ashore, we'll be completing a full examination of the wreck and we'll be finding out all of the elements that might have contributed to the safety of the vessel.' Further details such as 'escape routes' will be included in its final report on the sinking, according to Graves, who added: 'Once we get access to the vessel we'll be able to tell a fuller picture of activities on board and the sequence of events.' The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month, but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on 9 May, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. Lynch, who in June last year was cleared of fraud charges in the US relating to the sale of his company, Autonomy, to Hewlett-Packard in 2011, was enjoying a lavish voyage around Sicily to celebrate his acquittal alongside Hannah and his wife, Angela Bacares, whose company owned the Bayesian. The lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda, the Morgan Stanley International bank chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife, Judy, and the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas, also died in the incident. Nine other crew members and six guests – including Bacares – were rescued. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Lynch, his daughter and the Bloomers, who were all British nationals.
Washington Post
22-06-2025
- Washington Post
The recovered Bayesian superyacht transferred to Sicilian port on its final journey
PORTICELLO, Italy — A British-flagged luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year , killing U.K. tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, started its final trip to the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese on Sunday, a day after recovery crews completed the complex operation to bring it ashore. The white top and blue hull of the 56-meter (184-foot) Bayesian, covered with algae and mud, was kept elevated by the yellow floating crane barge off the port of Porticello, before starting its transfer to Termini Imerese, where a special steel cradle was waiting.
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Daily Mail
The incredible crane that will carry Bayesian: Specially constructed lifter will slowly take £25 million superyacht to safety
This is the specially built cradle that will hold the wreck of the £25million superyacht Bayesian. Seven people including tech tycoon Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, died when the 183ft yacht sank after being hit by a superstorm last summer. On Sunday, following a two-month £20 million salvage operation the Bayesian, now fully out of the water after being lifted 160ft from the seabed, was due to be taken to the port of Termini Imerese and lowered into the cradle. The journey of 12 miles was expected to take most of the day as the support crane carrying her, the Hebo Lift 10, will travel at a snail's pace to prevent any excessive swinging motion. MailOnline was able to watch a team of workmen, wearing high viz jackets and safety helmets, working in the 30c heat on the quayside at Termini Imerese putting together what appeared to resemble a Meccano set. Five sets of stilts could be seen on the dockside, and it is here that Bayesian will be gently placed when she arrives from site where she sank at the picturesque fishing hamlet of Porticello. A white tarpaulin has also been placed under the stilts which will capture any of the 18,000 litres of fuel that are still onboard although officials say the tanks have held and they are hopeful of preventing an environmental disaster. Once safely set up in the cradle prosecutors and lawyers will go onboard to inspect her and try and establish why she sank in just 16 minutes when the storm struck – while another yacht anchored a short distance away stayed afloat. A manslaughter probe has been opened against three crew members including New Zealand born captain James Cutfield, first engineer Tim Parker Eton and night watchman Matthew Griffiths. Locals say the storm was forecast and there have been suggestions doors and hatches left open may have contributed to the disaster, while others have also highlighted the height of her trademark 236 ft mast. To help the salvage operation, this was cut off last week and is still on the seabed but will be brought to the surface using inflatable balloons and also taken to Termini Imerese at a later date. A source with salvage firm TMC Marine said:' The cradle is custom designed and built in the Netherlands and was brought to the site by road early in the project. 'Each section is shaped to conform with the hull whilst till permitting the lift rigging to be removed.' On Sunday the Bayesian was fully out of the water and at first glance doors and hatches appeared to be closed and the once pristine white sun canopy on the sun deck was tattered, torn and stained brown by the sea. Guard rails were also dented, and the once pristine shiny blue hull was dirty and covered with algae, the keel, rudder and propellers were also clearly visible as she hung in the air, suspended around 15ft from the surface of the sea. She was brought to the surface by 16 sets of cables - four at the bow and four at the stern - and of particular interest will be the starboard side of the yacht which was where she was resting on the seabed and as of now not visible. The operation has been marked by tragedy with the death of a Dutch diver last month after an explosion as he worked to remove the mast and this has led to locals in Porticello claiming the yacht is 'cursed'. One told the MailOnline:' I'm sorry for those who died but I'm glad she is now away from here and we don't have to see these giant cranes in the sea anymore. 'My heart goes out to the people who died and their families but with the diver being killed last month it just makes me and lots of other people think she is bad luck, and we want her away.' An interim report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch last month suggested Bayesian was 'vulnerable' to high winds and these risks were not highlighted in the yacht's manual. The report said that the 'extreme wind 'gusts were more than 70mph experienced by Bayesian were sufficient to knock her over and that once she had tilted to more than 70' the 'situation was irrecoverable'. However, despite this there has been a whirlwind of wild conspiracy theories in Italian media suggesting British and Israeli special services were involved and that 'secrets hidden in the safe' were removed. Mr Lynch was on Bayesian with his wife – who survived the sinking – to celebrate his acquittal in June last year of fraud charges in an American court involving the sale of his firm Autonomy to Hewlett Packard in 2011. Just two days before the sinking his business partner Stephen Chamberlain was run over and killed while out jogging in Cambridgeshire.
Associated Press
22-06-2025
- Associated Press
The recovered Bayesian superyacht transferred to Sicilian port on its final journey
PORTICELLO, Italy (AP) — A British-flagged luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing U.K. tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, started its final trip to the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese on Sunday, a day after recovery crews completed the complex operation to bring it ashore. The white top and blue hull of the 56-meter (184-foot) Bayesian, covered with algae and mud, was kept elevated by the yellow floating crane barge off the port of Porticello, before starting its transfer to Termini Imerese, where a special steel cradle was waiting. The vessel will be made available for investigators for further examinations to help determine the cause of the sinking. The Bayesian sank Aug. 19 off Porticello, near Palermo, during a violent storm as Lynch was treating friends to a cruise to celebrate his acquittal two months earlier in the U.S. on fraud charges. Lynch, his daughter and five others died. Fifteen people survived, including the captain and all crew members except the chef. Italian authorities are conducting a full criminal investigation. The vessel was slowly raised from the seabed 50 meters (165 feet) deep over three days to allow the steel lifting straps, slings and harnesses to be secured under the keel. The Bayesian is missing its 72-meter (236-foot) mast, which was cut off and left on the seabed for future removal. The mast had to be detached to allow the hull to be brought to a nearly upright position that would allow the craft to be raised. British investigators said in an interim report issued last month that the yacht was knocked over by 'extreme wind' and couldn't recover. The report said the crew of the Bayesian had chosen the site where it sank as shelter from forecast thunderstorms. Wind speeds exceeded 70 knots (81 mph) at the time of the sinking and 'violently' knocked the vessel over to a 90-degree angle in under 15 seconds.
