56m sunken yacht Bayesian fully raised ahead of transport to shore

Bayesian fully raised ahead of transport to shore

The 56-metre sailing yacht Bayesian was raised out of the water by salvage cranes early this morning (21 June). This development marks the most significant step yet in the complex salvage of one of the world’s most high-profile sailing yachts.

According to TMC Marine, the company in charge of the salvage, the Perini Navi will remain suspended above the water for a series of initial inspections. She will then be transported to shore and settled in a specially built steel cradle, with this final stage scheduled for Monday (23 June).

Marcus Cave, director of TMC Marine, described the lifting operation as "complex and precise". "The salvage team has progressed in a systematic way that prioritised the safety of all working on site and minimised any potential impact on the environment," he said. "This care for personnel and for the environment will continue as Bayesian is transported into port tomorrow."

Bayesian now suspended above seabed ahead of Saturday surface lift

The full raising of Bayesian is now officially scheduled for early tomorrow (21 June), according to a statement released this afternoon by TMC Marine, the company in charge of the salvage.

Eight heavy-duty straps – four at the bow and four at the stern – are now holding the vessel securely in place beneath the floating crane vessel Hebo-Lift 10. The superyacht is currently suspended just above the seabed, with the accommodation now elevated temporarily out of the water.

Final checks and detailed preparations are now underway ahead of tomorrow's main lift, when Hebo-Lift 10 will begin slowly hoisting Bayesian fully out of the sea. Seawater will be pumped from the hull during the process, and the vessel will be held aloft over the weekend before transport begins.

If conditions remain favourable, Bayesian will be transported to the port of Termini Imerese on Sunday (22 June), and craned ashore into a specially built steel cradle on Monday (23 June).

Salvage director Marcus Cave of TMC Marine said the team had made “very substantive progress” in the last 10 days, and reiterated the importance of maintaining a secure perimeter around the site for safety. He added that the teams "are now preparing for the final, complex and delicate lifting operation, to bring Bayesian to the surface and ultimately into port."

Anti-pollution teams remain on standby throughout the operation, with oil booms in place around the lift zone.

Bayesian lifted from seabed in major salvage milestone

Bayesian has now been successfully lifted from the seabed off Sicily’s northern coast, marking a pivotal moment in the months-long recovery effort.

The operation, led by a specialist salvage team and supported by the heavy lift vessel Hebo-Lift 10, began earlier than anticipated and culminated today (20 June) with the yacht raised fully to the surface after three days of controlled elevation. 

Early visuals suggest that Bayesian is in better condition than many had expected. Her distinctive blue hull and white superstructure are now visible above the waterline, and at the stern, the yacht’s name is beginning to re-emerge as seawater washes away 10 months of seabed sediment.

The yacht’s 72-metre mast was cut free earlier in the operation to allow for lifting. The base of the mast remains visible on the deck, while the mast itself still lies on the seabed and is expected to be salvaged separately at a later stage.

Bayesian righted on seabed ahead of weekend lift

Significant progress has been made in the recovery of Bayesian, with the superyacht now resting in a near upright position on the seabed. The vessel’s 72-metre mast was successfully detached and laid on the seafloor yesterday (17 June) using a precision diamond wire tool, clearing the way for hull adjustments. Salvors have since partially parbuckled the hull, aided by lifting slings.

In the coming days, hoses and plugs will be installed into the now accessible starboard side tank vents that previously lay directly on the seabed, 50 metres below the surface of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Mediterranean.

With work to install these now underway, the vessel is expected to be brought fully upright this coming weekend (21-22 June). Subject to weather and final preparations, the Hebo-Lift 10 is scheduled to raise the hull to the surface this Saturday, followed by transfer to Terminal Imerese for handover on Monday (23 June), where the hull will subsequently be lifted onto a specially manufactured steel cradle that awaits on the quayside.

Marcus Cave, head of naval architecture and a director of TMC Marine, said: “The complex work to safely recover Bayesian has progressed quickly in the past week by the contractors’ personnel. Over the coming days, all going well, the vessel’s final recovery will take place this weekend and lead to her ultimate safe delivery to the authorities in Terminal Imerese.”

Pollution control remains active at the site, and the exclusion zone continues to be strictly enforced.

Full details of Bayesian salvage plan released

Full details on the recovery of Bayesian have been released. The recovery plan was confirmed following a meeting in Palermo yesterday (10 June), according to a statement released by TMC Marine, the company in charge of the salvage. Works will begin by temporarily lifting the stern section of the Perini Navi using Hebo-Lift 10, one of the salvage vessels on site. This will allow the salvors to install the slings necessary to ultimately lift the sailing yacht in late June.

The lifting of Bayesian requires eight main steel lifting strops to be installed under the hull, forming part of a specially designed steel wire lifting arrangement. After this step (but before Bayesian is lifted), salvage teams will use  "precision cutting tools" to remove the sailing yacht's 72-metre mast. Once lifted, Bayesian will be settled on a custom-manufactured steel cradle, now prepared on the quayside of Termini Imerese.

Another key piece of preparatory work has also been completed, with authorities successfully undergoing a 360-degree visual survey of the seabed. Using remote-controlled submersible equipment, this survey covered a 20-metre radius from Bayesian and identified 17 pieces of potential debris – including a life raft casing and items of deck furniture. These materials have now been safely recovered and brought to shore.

Anti-pollution monitoring of the site also continues, though no pollution has been identified to date.

Bayesian to be recovered by end of June

Steady progress has been made in on-site preparatory work for Bayeisan's recovery, according to TMC Marine, the company in charge of salvage works. Salvors are currently installing eight messenger lines (light ropes used to help pull heavy cables) underneath the hull – the first step in creating a lifting arrangement for the Perini Navi. All four lines have been fed under the bow, with the stern presenting "a more complicated challenge" given the position of the hull and the clay seabed on which the sailing yacht currently lays.

Bayesian is expected to be lifted in the second half of June, after the removal of the 72-metre mast using "precision cutting tools". 

TMC Marine also confirmed that preparatory tasks are now being completed by remote-controlled submersible equipment, managed from the two floating work platforms on site. New specialist equipment has arrived in Sicily from across Europe, together with new members of the salvage team, to accommodate the increase of remote-controlled tools and reduction in diving activity.

Section of Bayesian's sailing rig raised from seabed

The first piece of the sunken 56-metre sailing yacht Bayesian has been recovered. Salvage vessel Hebo-Lift 10 has lifted the main boom out of the water, a pole that would have supported the Perini Navi's sails (measuring an impressive 2,899 square metres) for increased speed and control. The anchor has also been recovered as TMC Marine, the company in charge of the salvage, prepares for the ultimate recovery of the hull itself.

TMC Marine also confirmed that, following the tragic death of a diver on-site, experts from HEBO and SMIT Salvage are now working on adjusting certain tasks to increase the use of remote-controlled tools.

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.