Bayesian superyacht hull raised from seabed during investigation into fatal sinking

The hull of the 183ft/56m Perini Navi Bayesian, which sank after capsizing off Sicily with the lack of seven lives, has been raised from the seabed as we speak, Friday 20 June.

The lifting of the intact hull of the superyacht is a serious milestone in what has been an exceptionally complicated and difficult salvage operation to recuperate the yacht from roughly 50m depth within the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The Bayesian was knocked down throughout a sudden violent storm while at anchor off the Northern coast of Sicily, and sank quickly, ensuing within the deaths of seven folks within the early hours of 19 August 2024.

Bayesian hull raised

TMC Marine, the specialist British firm is main the salvage operation, reported that – after weeks of preparation – the vessel has been slowly dropped at the floor over the previous three days.

In a press release launched this afternoon, TMC reported: “Over the previous three days the hull has been eased, or parbuckled, into an upright place, which gave entry to the beforehand inaccessible starboard aspect that had been laying straight on the seabed, 50 metres beneath the floor of the Tyrrhenian Sea within the Mediterranean.

The elevating of the Bayesian. Photograph courtesy of Superyacht Information/The Yacht Report.

“Throughout this time the vessel has been progressively lifted off the seabed in order that extra lifting straps could possibly be positioned beneath the keel.

“The hull has been regularly supported by eight metal lifting straps – 4 beneath every of the bow and stern sections – and that are a part of a specifically designed metal wire lifting association.”

This lifting construction is connected to the big 5,695-grose-tonne floating heavy lifting crane, the Hebo Elevate 10 – one of many largest and strongest marine cranes in Europe, which held the yacht securely on the seabed, earlier than elevating it.

The lifting of the superyacht has attracted appreciable consideration, with native and specialist channels live-streaming the salvage operation from Italy, equivalent to superyacht channel The Yacht Report.

The increase of the Bayesian on the HEBO LIFT 2 salvage platform. Photograph: TMC Marine

The hull is predicted to stay in its present place till tomorrow, when will probably be lifted away from the water. Sea water can be pumped out of the hull as it’s raised. It is going to then be held in a raised place over the weekend earlier than – climate permitting – the Hebo Elevate 10 will transport it to the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese, some 10 miles away,

As soon as in port, the Bayesian can be lifted onto a specifically manufactured metal cradle that has been constructed on the quayside. That’s scheduled to happen on Monday 23 June.

Bayesian salvage operation

The salvage operation has been complicated and extremely technical, with the specialist groups of round 70 folks concerned together with the Dutch crane firm HEBO, SMIT Salvage, and help from Italian specialists.. Moreover Hebo Elevate 10, a second big vessel, the Hebo Elevate 2 has additionally been deployed. This multi-purpose barge has 700sq m of deck area in addition to an built-in crane.

HEBO LIFT 10 alongside sister-vessel-HEBO LIFT 2 in Termini-Imerese forward of the Bayesian salvage operation. Photograph: TMC Marine

The operation has more and more been utilizing remote-controlled instruments following the tragic dying of a salvage diver working for the Dutch SMIT Salvage workforce on Could 9. Operations had been halted for a interval after the deadly incident.

Since Could the yacht’s increase, mainsail and furling gear had been recovered. A remote-controlled submersible was additionally deployed to chop one in all Bayesian’s anchor chains, enabling the restoration of each the anchor and chain from the seabed.

On Tuesday, June 17 the yacht’s 72-metre mast was reduce free utilizing a remote-controlled diamond wire chopping device and recovered onto the floating crane platform The mast was then lowered to the seabed to be recovered at a later stage. Eradicating the rig allowed the method of rotating the hull to start, till the yacht was in a near-vertical place prepared for lifting.

All through this salvage operation, the restoration workforce has been monitoring for air pollution, and a precautionary oil increase is presently in place.

The cradle construction constructed to obtain the salvaged Bayesian hull. Photograph: TMC Marine

Investigation underway

Marcus Cave, Head of Naval Structure and a Director of TMC Marine, mentioned: “The salvage workforce has made very substantive progress within the final 10 days. They’re now getting ready for the ultimate, complicated and delicate lifting operation, to deliver Bayesian to the floor and in the end into port.

“It is a difficult programme of exercise, that can be progressed in a measured and systematic method. Whereas there’s huge curiosity on this undertaking, we proceed to ask that media and different spectators adhere to the safety perimeter, which is in place to assist shield the security of everybody on website.”

The deadly sinking of the Bayesian is topic to a legal investigation in Italy, whereas the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Department (MAIB) has launched its interim report into the tragedy, which resulted in seven deaths, together with that of the yacht’s proprietor Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

A strict safety cordon is in place across the yacht, of 1 nautical mile by air and 650m by sea across the working website.