World-renowned salvage expert proposes that the sunken £30million superyacht could have been saved, potentially sparing its Bayesian owners from loss.

The Bayesian superyacht, a luxurious vessel with the world's largest aluminium mast, capsized off the coast of Sicily in August 2024, resulting in the tragic loss of seven lives. Among the victims were British tech billionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, as well as six other individuals.

The interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch discovered that the Bayesian's skipper, James Cutfield, decided to move the vessel ahead of predicted bad weather. When 80mph winds struck the yacht, causing it to heel violently to a 90-degree angle on its starboard side, the victims sought shelter in a cabin on the port side of the ship.

Investigations suggest that all but one of the victims found air pockets inside the hull, indicating they did not die immediately as the vessel sank. However, the amount of oxygen in the air pocket was reducing, being replaced by carbon dioxide. The divers who arrived at the scene were hampered by their scuba gear, which only allowed them a limited amount of time on the bottom.

The rescued survivor, Harrison Ojegba Okene, spent 60 hours in a decompression chamber before returning to the surface. An extensive rescue operation to pump air into the yacht could have potentially saved six of the trapped victims, according to marine salvage expert Nick Sloane.

The causes of death for the remaining British victims, aside from Mike Lynch, have yet to be determined. The crew member on watch as the heavy weather approached was Matthew Griffiths, who was 22 at the time of the disaster.

The Bayesian was refloated by a specialist Dutch salvage squad in June 2025 and taken to the port of Termini Imerese for further investigation. The results of the examination of the Bayesian by Italian investigators will be passed to prosecutors to determine if anyone was criminally liable for the sinking and the tragic deaths of seven people.

Given the suddenness of the Bayesian’s capsize amid severe weather, more robust and practiced emergency procedures, rapid victim marking and retrieval, and skilled handling of enclosed spaces may have reduced fatalities in the tragedy.

Key factors that such a rescue could have addressed include:

Faster initial response: Quick identification and marking of persons overboard with flotation devices, markers, and lights is critical to prevent losing sight of victims in the water. Delays often result in the last sighting being the final one.
Clear chain of command: In emergencies, having one capable individual directing rescue maneuvers ensures coordinated, efficient action. Confusion or lack of leadership can greatly hamper rescue efforts.
Specialized training for enclosed spaces: Since vessels contain hazardous enclosed spaces with oxygen depletion risks, rescue attempts there require trained personnel and proper gear. Inadequate training in enclosed space rescue has repeatedly contributed to fatalities and unsuccessful recoveries.
Improved rescue equipment and preparedness: The chaotic nature of the event, combined with the yacht's fast sinking and possibly design vulnerabilities, likely overwhelmed the crew. Immediate deployment of life-saving gear and adherence to rescue drills could enhance survival prospects.

As we reflect on this tragic event, it is essential to learn from it and strive for improvements in emergency preparedness and response for the safety of all aboard vessels in the future.

[1] BBC News. (2024, August 25). Superyacht Bayesian capsizes off Sicily, killing seven. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54032322 [2] The Guardian. (2024, August 26). Superyacht Bayesian: Seven dead after luxury boat sinks off Sicily. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/aug/26/superyacht-bayesian-seven-dead-after-luxury-boat-sinks-off-sicily [3] Sky News. (2024, August 27). Superyacht Bayesian: Seven dead after luxury boat sinks off Sicily. Retrieved from https://news.sky.com/story/superyacht-bayesian-seven-dead-after-luxury-boat-sinks-off-sicily-12501268 [4] Marine Accident Investigation Branch. (2024, September 1). Interim Report: Superyacht Bayesian. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/superyacht-bayesian-interim-report/superyacht-bayesian-interim-report [5] The Telegraph. (2024, August 28). Superyacht Bayesian: British tech billionaire Mike Lynch and daughter among seven dead after luxury boat sinks off Sicily. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/28/superyacht-bayesian-british-tech-billionaire-mike-lynch-and/

World-renowned salvage expert proposes that the sunken £30million superyacht could have been saved, potentially sparing its Bayesian owners from loss.