Dutch-led recovery team prepares to lift the 56m Perini Navi from 49m depth off the coast of Sicily, marking a pivotal step in the ongoing investigation into the 2024 sinking.
The salvage operation for the 56-meter Perini Navi sailing yacht Bayesian is poised to commence within the next 10 to 12 days, as confirmed by British maritime consultancy TMC Marine. This complex endeavour follows the yacht’s sudden sinking in August 2024 near Porticello, Sicily, during a severe storm that tragically claimed seven lives, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter.
The recovery process is being undertaken by a consortium led by TMC Marine, in collaboration with Dutch firms HEBO Maritiemservice and Smit Salvage. The operation involves the deployment of the heavy-lift crane Hebo Lift 10 and the support barge Hebo Lift 2. Initial steps include the removal of the yacht’s 75-meter aluminium mast—the second tallest in the world—to facilitate the lifting of the hull, which rests at a depth of approximately 49 meters.
Once the mast is removed, the salvage team will proceed to right the vessel and lift it to the surface. The yacht will then be transported to the port of Termini Imerese, where it will undergo forensic examination as part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sinking. The operation is estimated to cost around $30 million, funded by an international insurance consortium.
The lifting of Bayesian is not only a significant technical undertaking but also a critical step in understanding the factors that led to the vessel’s rapid sinking. Investigators are exploring potential human error, structural issues, or equipment malfunctions as possible causes. The findings from this operation are expected to have broader implications for maritime safety protocols and yacht design standards.
