‘Unsinkable’ yacht took 16 minutes to sink, not 60 seconds, CEO claims

The CEO of the company that built the superyacht Bayesian has claimed that the crew had 16 minutes to warn passengers before the vessel sank during a violent storm near Palermo, Sicily.

As Daily Mail reports, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, said the yacht was "virtually unsinkable" and questioned why it wasn't safely docked in the harbor during the storm.

According to Costantino, the yacht began dragging its anchor due to strong winds and sank 16 minutes later, a timeframe he insists should have allowed the crew to warn passengers. “The torture lasted 16 minutes,” Costantino told the Financial Times, referencing data from the yacht's Automatic Identification System (AIS) that showed the vessel's movements.

However, a witness described the yacht sinking in about 60 seconds, suggesting a sudden and catastrophic event. AIS data also indicated that a nearby vessel, the Sir Robert Baden Powell, followed a similar course as the Bayesian but remained afloat and assisted in the rescue of survivors.

Costantino, who acquired the yacht’s builder Perini Navi two years ago, blamed "human error" for the tragedy, suggesting that open hatches and the yacht's keel not being fully lowered contributed to the sinking. He criticized the crew for not taking proper precautions and failing to close all doors and portholes in preparation for the storm.

Rino Casilli, a seasoned ship surveyor from Sicily, echoed Costantino’s concerns, stating that multiple errors likely led to the rapid flooding. Casilli noted that a single mistake could not have caused such a quick sinking and that the yacht should have been better prepared for the storm.

As recovery efforts continue, the Italian Coastguard has confirmed that six people, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, have been found dead. The search is ongoing for Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, who is still missing and presumed to be inside the wreck.

The yacht’s captain and crew are being questioned by authorities as part of an investigation into the sinking. While there is speculation about raising the yacht to uncover more details, the Italian Coastguard has stated that such an operation is not currently planned.

The tragedy has prompted tributes for those lost, including Lynch, who was remembered as a pioneering figure in technology and a mentor to many. Friends and colleagues have expressed their condolences and described the loss as a significant blow to the tech community and beyond.

[Information sourced from Daily Mail]