Salvage of 56m sunken yacht Bayesian concludes

Owner and crew unaware of safety "vulnerabilities" on board Bayesian, according to interim safety report

An interim report released by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has revealed that Bayesian "may have been vulnerable" to extreme weather, including "high winds" up to 87 knots. An analysis of the meteorological conditions, commissioned by MAIB and conducted by the UK Met Office, concluded that conditions were conducive to "supercells", an isolated mesocylonic storm that can produce damaging winds, hail, tornados or tornadic waterspouts.

A parallel study conducted by The University of Southampton, also commissioned by MAIB, indicated that if the wind was blowing directly onto Bayesian's beam, and the yacht was in the "motoring condition" – a position where the centreboard was raised and no sails were up – a gusting wind speed in excess of 63.4 knots would likely result in the vessel capsizing, "irrespective of any interactions and blanketing effects". The situation would have been "irrecoverable" once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70.6 degrees. By 4:06am, Bayesian had heeled over 90 degrees to starboard, taking "less than 15 seconds to do so".

Crucially, MAIB noted that these "vulnerabilities" were not identified in the stability information book carried on board, meaning both owner and crew would not have been aware.

A full report will be released, with the salvage of the hull itself an integral component to the investigation. MAIB has confirmed that the criminal investigation underway in Italy has restricted access to the wreck and "other material elements of primary evidence".

In this week's podcast, BOAT explored the particulars of the MAIB report, including eyewitness recounts of what really happened on that fateful night. Listen below.

Bayesian salvage to resume tomorrow

Works to recover Bayesian are scheduled to resume with "preparatory activities" tomorrow. The salvage was postponed last week following the tragic death of a specialist diver on site.

"Last week's tragedy affected all involved," said Marcus Cave, head of naval architecture and director at TMC Marine, in a statement. "However, everyone is still committed to complete this project."

Operational activity was suspended over the weekend to support an investigation into the incident. The salvage team will continue to "provide full cooperation" to the authorities as works resume.

Salvage temporarily suspended following diver death

On-site work to recover Bayesian has been temporarily suspended to make way for an investigation into the death of a salvage diver, which occurred yesterday (9 May).

"The tragedy has been felt by all involved in this project," said Marcus Cave, head of naval architecture and a director of TMC Marine, the company in charge of salvage works. "The priority right now is the family of this expert, specialist diver, who was well liked and indeed loved by all involved in the project."

He added that "salvage operations at sea always carry an element of risk" and that the pause in operations would help the team "mourn and regroup".

A further project update will be issued after the weekend.

Diver dies during preliminary salvage operation to recover the sunken yacht

A specialist diver has died while working on the salvage operation of Bayesian. The 39-year-old was pronounced dead today, with the cause of death unconfirmed.

A Coast Guard spokesperson confirmed the incident but said no further details were immediately available. The situation is being handled by the Italian Coast Guard, supported by the Carabinieri.

"The circumstances of the accident are currently being investigated by the authorities and all parties are offering their full cooperation," read a statement by British maritime consultancy TMC Marine. "We are giving every support to the salvage team on site at this heartbreaking time and our thoughts are with the family of the deceased."

Lifting of Bayesian hull to begin within two weeks

Works to right and lift Bayesian will begin in 10-12 days from now, according to British maritime consultancy TMC Marine. "Significant progress" has been made over the past five days, with the salvage crew using a remote-controlled submersible, supported by specialist divers, to carry out a detailed analysis of the Bayesian and the surrounding seabed.

This has confirmed that there has been "no material change" to the sailing yacht's condition, or to the surrounding marine environment, meaning the recovery can go ahead as scheduled. Specialists have set eight anchor points across the two salvage vessels, Hebo-Lift 10 and Hebo-Lift 2, preparing them for the operation. 

TMC Marine has also confirmed that the rigging, anchor, mast, boom and associated equipment will have to be detached ahead of the lifting process. Once detached, this equipment will be temporarily stored on the seabed and recovered after Bayesian has been successfully transported to port. The vessel's tender boom has already been recovered to Hebo-lift 2, with the main boom and mainsail likely to be recovered later this week.

Investigation of wreckage site begins

The preliminary investigation of the site where Bayesian sank has begun off the coast of Porticello, Sicily. Works are being led by the multi-purpose floating work barge, Hebo-Lift 2, which has been loaded with project-specific salvage equipment and specialist personnel – including expert divers and remotely-operated underwater vehicle pilots.

The investigation will involve a detailed inspection and analysis of Bayesian and the surrounding marine environment via a remote-controlled submersible. This is expected to take 7-10 days.

Three Bayesian crew members officially under investigation

Three of Bayesian's crew members are officially under investigation for crimes including "negligence, recklessness and malpractice" in failing to save the sailing yacht from freak weather, according to Italian prosecutors. This is a key update in the manslaughter probe underway in Sicily, led by prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano.

• Captain James Cutfield is under scrutiny for not "promptly tak[ing] all measures to deal with the emergency situation that had arisen". The document specifies a potential charge in failing to warn the guests, which resulted in Michael Lynch, Hannah Lynch, Judith Bloomer, Jonathan Bloomer, Christopher Morvillo, Neda Morvillo and Recaldo Thomas being "trapped in the lower rooms [and] brought to the bottom with the boat as it sank".
• Chief engineer Timothy Parker Eaton, who was the only crew member on the aft area of the vessel, is being investigated for negligence by failing to realise that Bayesian had already begun to take on water – and warning the captain accordingly.
• Deckhand Matthew Griffiths, who was assigned to the night watch, is being investigated for failure to notice the worsening weather conditions.

The result of this investigation is heavily reliant on the yacht's salvage, as the hull will provide crucial evidentiary material related to the sinking's cause.

Principal rescue crane arrives in Sicily

The principal floating crane, Hebo-Lift 10, has arrived at the port of Termini Imerese in Palermo, Italy, ahead of schedule. The 6,695GT heavy lifting asset is one of Europe's most powerful maritime cranes and will be instrumental in the salvage of Bayesian.

The multi-purpose floating work barge, Hebo-Lift 2, which will be supporting Hebo-Lift 10, arrived in Sicily earlier this week. She has spent the past two days being loaded with project-specific salvage equipment and specialist personnel, with clement weather meaning she will be departing for Porticello today to complete initial preparatory works on site.

First rescue barge arrives in Sicily for "early stages" of salvage

The work barge Hebo-Lift 2 arrives at the port of Termini Imerese in Palermo, Sicily. According to a statement released by TMC Marine, the vessel, which is accompanied by an Italian support tug, will stay in port for two days to load the project-specific salvage equipment. Expert divers, remotely-operated underwater vehicle pilots and other specialist marine personnel (totalling approximately 70 persons) will also embark Hebo-Lift 2 over the next 48 hours.

The vessel will head for the wreck site this weekend (3-4 May), subject to suitable weather. The salvage's principal floating crane, Hebo-Lift 10, is scheduled to arrive in Palermo on 4 May and will remain in port for these early stages.

Salvage begins

Operations for the recovery of Bayesian are set to start at midnight tonight, according to an official order signed by Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Alessandro Barra. In the next few days, salvage specialists Hebo Maritiemservice and Smit Salvage will deploy their heavy-lift vessels, Hebo-Lift 2 and Hebo-Lift 10, to the wreck's location at LAT 38° 05’.008 N – LONG. 13° 33’.109 E (pictured). An insider source tells BOAT International that the signalling system at the Scoglio della Formica – a rock shoal and historical landmark located approximately 100 metres from the wreckage – is malfunctioning, which is likely to cause a hazard at nighttime.

A 650-metre exclusion zone is now in place around the site, with overflight by any apparatus or aircraft also prohibited up to a height of 200 metres from the water's surface. The official order notes that once Bayesian is recovered and transported to the port of Termini Imerese, all naval units not associated with the salvage must maintain a distance of no less than 500 metres. Recovery is expected to take four weeks.