Two days ago, on April 19, 2025, the Dutch crane vessel Hebo Lift 10 departed from the Port of Rotterdam. The ship has been selected to carry out the recovery of the wreck of the S/Y Bayesian, the Perini Navi sailing yacht that has been lying on the seabed off Porticello, near Palermo, Sicily, since last August 19.
Exactly eight months after the tragic sinking that claimed the lives of seven people — including British entrepreneur Mike Lynch, founder of Autonomy, his daughter Hannah, Jonathan and Judy Bloomer, Chris and Neda Morvillo, and onboard chef Recaldo Thomas — the salvage operation is now officially underway. The aim is to raise the 56-metre superyacht, launched in 2008 in Viareggio under the name Salute, now resting on her starboard side at a depth of 49 metres.
The Hebo Lift 10, measuring 83 metres in length and 35 in beam, is currently making around 8 knots. Weather permitting, the vessel is expected to arrive off Porticello by May 5. However, preliminary operations on the wreck are set to begin on April 28, with initial steps including the removal of the rig. The yacht, reportedly intact, still has its now well-known 75-metre aluminium mast with six sets of spreaders firmly in place.
Once the rig is removed, the salvage team will proceed with slinging the hull, first to bring it upright while preventing fuel spills from the tanks, and then to lift it to the surface. If everything goes according to plan, the operation should take approximately four weeks, with completion expected by the end of May. The Bayesian will then be transferred to the port of Termini Imerese, where it will be made available to the judiciary for forensic examination.
The estimated cost of the operation is around USD 30 million, funded by an international insurance consortium.
The recovery is considered crucial for clarifying the causes of the sinking. The investigation, led by the Prosecutor’s Office of Termini Imerese, currently names as suspects the British captain James Cutfield and two crew members — chief engineer Tim Parker Eaton and deckhand Matthew Griffith — under charges of involuntary shipwreck and manslaughter.
In parallel, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has launched its own technical inquiry, currently on hold pending the outcome of the Italian judicial process. Technical consultants from both countries will have access to the wreck to examine possible structural failures, human error, or equipment malfunctions.
At the time of the accident, 22 people were on board: 12 crew members and 10 guests. Only 15 survived, including Mike Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares — formally the yacht’s owner — who was rescued along with others thanks to the swift response of the 42-metre clipper Sir Baden Powell, under the command of Karsten Borner, which was just 150 metres away.
According to La Repubblica Palermo, more than 500 people — including tourists and journalists — are expected to flock to local hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals to witness the recovery operation. The Bayesian sinking had a deep impact on the international yachting world, not only due to the high-profile victims but also for the broader implications regarding safety protocols, crew training, and emergency procedures aboard large private yachts.
Accommodations in Porticello and Santa Flavia are reportedly 95% booked until mid-May, with some rates exceeding €100 per night. There’s also high demand for charter boats aiming to get closer to the wreck site, while groups of divers plan to capture images within the limits established by the Coast Guard.