A tragic incident has struck the early stages of the salvage operation to recover the sunken yacht Bayesian, as a specialist diver lost his life during underwater recovery works. The 39-year-old diver, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, was pronounced dead on 9 May. The exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
The Italian Coast Guard is leading the investigation into the fatal incident, supported by local law enforcement authorities, including the Carabinieri. Details surrounding the accident remain limited as inquiries continue.
British maritime consultancy TMC Marine, the company overseeing the salvage project, released a statement expressing condolences:
“The circumstances of the accident are currently being investigated by the authorities and all parties are offering their full cooperation. We are giving every support to the salvage team on site at this heartbreaking time and our thoughts are with the family of the deceased.”
As a result of the incident, all on-site salvage operations have been temporarily suspended. TMC Marine director and head of naval architecture, Marcus Cave, commented on the difficult decision to pause the operation:
“The tragedy has been felt by all involved in this project. The priority right now is the family of this expert, specialist diver, who was well liked and indeed loved by all involved in the project. Salvage operations at sea always carry an element of risk, and this moment calls for us to mourn and regroup.”
The operation to recover Bayesian, a vessel that had been the focus of intensive salvage planning, will resume once it is deemed appropriate. A further update on the status of the project is expected after the weekend.
This incident is a somber reminder of the risks taken by those working in maritime recovery and the bravery of those who undertake these complex and often dangerous operations.
