Seven Confirmed Dead and Three Under Investigation in BAYESIAN Sinking

The cause for the tragic sinking of S/Y BAYESIAN is still under investigation with three crew members being questioned.

S/Y BAYESIAN has been the topic of international news with much speculation regarding how and why the yacht sank, in addition to conjecture surrounding who should be held responsible. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the vessel’s sudden sinking.

Image Credit: Perini Navi

During what has been called a “freak storm” in the early morning hours of August 19, a waterspout purportedly hit the vessel, causing it to capsize and sink. 15 survivors were rescued by a nearby sailboat while 7 people were confirmed dead after a search and rescue mission that spanned several days.

For additional information, please read YATCO’s original article and follow-up report.

Watch the Bayesian Yacht Accident: Marine Inspector Explains the Investigation | WSJ News video on YouTube.

The seven people who lost their lives when BAYESIAN sank are reported to be: billionaire tech mogul Mike Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, bank chairman of Morgan Stanley International Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy Bloomer, Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at firm Clifford Chance, and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Chef Recaldo Thomas. 

The captain of BAYESIAN is currently under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck, while the yacht’s engineer and a crew member who was on watch during the disaster have recently become part of the investigation. It is important to note that this investigation does not imply guilt of any party, nor does it necessarily indicate that formal charges will follow the investigation. 

BAYESIAN was built in 2008 by Perini Navi, now part of The Italian Sea Group.

CEO Giovanni Costantino spoke brazenly in an interview regarding the tragedy, blaming the crew for “indescribable, unreasonable errors.” Costantino stressed the design integrity of the ship, calling it “unsinkable,” while declaring that vessels constructed by The Italian Sea Group are the “safest in the most absolute sense.” 

To gain a better understanding of what caused BAYESIAN to sink, the vessel will have to be removed from the ocean and examined by experts. Currently, the yacht is in approximately 164ft of water outside the port of Palermo in Italy where the incident occurred. The site of the wreckage is currently under the surveillance of Italian authorities with recovery efforts estimated to begin in October.

Watch the Things That Don’t Make Sense About The Bayesian Superyacht Disaster video on YouTube.

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