The recovery operation for the luxury sailing yacht Bayesian, which sank off the coast of Sicily in August 2024, is nearing completion. The final stage is scheduled for this weekend, marking the end of a tragic and costly mission valued at $27 million.
The vessel sank after being struck by a sudden squall, killing its billionaire owner Mike Lynch, his daughter, and five others. A criminal investigation is ongoing, and the raising of the yacht is a key part of the process.
The salvage team is using a crane barge, dive teams, and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to bring the yacht to the surface. Earlier this week, divers passed lifting slings under the hull. The operation was expedited when the yacht’s massive mast was removed using a diamond wire cutter, which caused the wreck lying on its side to partially shift upright — making it easier to route messenger lines and install the main lifting slings.
Once Bayesian is raised, it will be transported to nearby Termini Imerese and placed in a containment unit for storage and dewatering. Prosecutors and plaintiffs’ attorneys will then inspect the yacht, focusing in part on whether the hatches were closed before the vessel went down — a detail that could prove crucial in the criminal proceedings against three crew members.
The operation has not been without tragedy. Last month, diver Rob Heben died during the removal of the yacht’s boom. Authorities suspect a hydrogen explosion caused by the underwater cutting tool. His death forced a one-week halt in operations and led the team to rely more heavily on ROVs in place of divers wherever possible.
Raising Bayesian may offer vital clues into the cause of one of the most high-profile maritime tragedies in recent years and pave the way for the next phase of the legal investigation.
