[Image: Fabio la Bianca / Facebook]
A tragic incident occurred on Friday, May 9, during the salvage operation of the sunken superyacht Bayesian off the coast of Porticello, Sicily.
A 39-year-old Dutch diver, employed by the Dutch maritime company Hebo Maritiemservice, lost his life while working underwater to dismantle the yacht’s mast. The exact cause of death remains under investigation, with initial reports suggesting possible trauma from debris dislodged during the operation.
The incident has led to a temporary halt in the salvage efforts as authorities conduct their investigation.
The Bayesian, a 56-meter superyacht, sank on August 19, 2024, during a powerful storm while anchored off Porticello. The storm, identified as a downburst (a rare and violent downward wind) struck the vessel shortly before dawn, causing it to capsize and sink within minutes.
Seven of the 22 people aboard, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, tragically lost their lives.
The yacht, built by Perini Navi in 2008, was considered “unsinkable” due to its advanced design and construction. However, the rapid sinking has raised questions about potential design flaws and human error. Investigations are ongoing, with Italian prosecutors considering manslaughter charges against the yacht’s captain and two crew members.
The recovery of the Bayesian began in early May 2025, with a $30 million insurance-funded salvage operation involving cutting down the yacht’s 75-meter mast and using one of Europe’s most powerful marine cranes to lift the wreck from a depth of 50 meters.
The Dutch diver’s death occurred during preparatory work to dismantle the mast. Reports indicate that he was struck by a piece of metal while cutting the boom. The incident has prompted a temporary suspension of the salvage operation as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatality.
In addition to the investigation into the diver’s death, Italian authorities are continuing their probe into the sinking of the Bayesian. The rapid sinking of the vessel has led to speculation about possible design flaws and human error. Experts have suggested that factors such as the yacht’s tall mast, low positioning of air vents, and the retractable keel not being fully extended may have contributed to the disaster.
The legal implications of the incident are significant, and in addition to potential manslaughter charges against the captain and crew, there are reports that the UK intelligence agency MI6 retrieved top-secret files and encrypted devices from the sunken yacht before Italian authorities could intervene.
These files reportedly belonged to Mike Lynch’s cybersecurity company, Darktrace, and contained sensitive contracts with UK, US, and Israeli intelligence agencies.
