Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the sinking of a superyacht off the coast of Sicily that claimed the lives of seven people, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch.
The British-flagged yacht, carrying 22 passengers and crew members, sank on Monday in treacherous weather conditions. The incident, which occurred earlier this week during a violent storm, has raised questions about the crew's behavior and the vessel's handling.
According to CNN, prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio stated that the investigation is not targeting any specific individual. Over the past four days, divers have been working at depths of nearly 50 meters (160 feet) to recover the bodies of the victims. The last body recovered, believed to be that of Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah, was found in the wreckage on Friday.
Prosecutor Cartosio emphasized that the weather was not the primary cause of the ship's sinking. Instead, the investigation is centered on the actions of the crew and how the boat was managed during the incident. The prosecutor's office has filed a dossier against unknown persons, alleging crimes of negligent shipwreck and manslaughter.
Cartosio explained that there are multiple possibilities for culpability, stating, "It could be just the captain. It could be the whole crew. It could be the guard. We are evaluating all of the factors to see whose behavior fault can be assigned to." This broad approach suggests that the investigation will be thorough and comprehensive.
Another prosecutor, Raffaele Cammarano, provided additional insights into the ongoing investigation. He noted that those who perished were likely asleep when the storm hit, which may explain why they were unable to escape. Cammarano also mentioned that the crew did not undergo drug and alcohol tests immediately after the incident due to being in a state of shock and requiring medical treatment.
Many aspects of the incident remain unclear, including whether the yacht was equipped with a black box. Cammarano stressed the importance of recovering the ship to gain a better understanding of the events leading to its sinking. He described the incident as "a sudden and abrupt event," highlighting the need for a detailed examination of the wreckage.
One of the key questions investigators are grappling with is whether some of the ship's hatches were left open, which could potentially explain the rapid sinking of the vessel. However, authorities are unable to confirm this detail at the present stage of the investigation.
The sinking of the Bayesian superyacht has also raised questions about the vessel's design and safety features. Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns the boat's manufacturer, referred to the superyacht as "unsinkable" in an interview with Sky News. He cited the yacht's structure and design as factors contributing to its supposed unsinkability.
Costantino stated:
Sailing ships, it is well known, are the safest in the most absolute sense. First of all, because they have very little surface compared to a yacht facing into the wind. Second, with the structure of the drift keel, they become unsinkable bodies.
The tragedy has had a significant impact, claiming the lives of several prominent individuals. Among the victims were Morgan Stanley International director Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy Bloomer, as well as well-known American lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda Morvillo. The onboard chef, Recaldo Thomas, was also among those who lost their lives in the incident.
Recovery efforts have been challenging, with divers working in difficult conditions to retrieve the bodies of the victims. Five bodies were discovered in a single cabin, leading authorities to speculate that the group may have been searching for air pockets as the boat sank. However, officials have emphasized that a full salvage operation will be necessary before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.
In conclusion, the manslaughter investigation into the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht off the coast of Sicily is ongoing. Italian authorities are focusing on the crew's behavior and the handling of the vessel as potential factors in the tragedy. With many questions still unanswered, the recovery of the ship and further examination of the wreckage will be crucial in determining the exact cause of the incident that claimed seven lives.
