Salvage work on the doomed superyacht Bayesian continued on Saturday as more of the £30 million vessel emerged from the sea.
Inch by inch the vessel’s once pristine blue hull could be seen more clearly as she was slowly lifted by a large marine crane from a depth of 160ft.
The 184ft yacht sank last August after being hit by a superstorm downburst in a tragedy that left seven people dead – including tech billionaire Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18.
On Saturday the bow of the Bayesian could be seen for the first time with no clear damage visible – unlike the stern where guardrails were clearly twisted.
Also revealed for the first time since it sank was the remnants of the stump of the Bayesian’s trademark 237ft mast which had been removed earlier in the week.
Officials from salvagers TMC Marine said it was the removal of the mast that had helped ‘accelerate’ the lifting operation which had begun two months ago.
Originally the lift was planned for mid-May but it was delayed for several weeks after a Dutch diver – involved in removing the mast – was killed in an accident still being investigated by prosecutors.
Then bad weather added to the hold up, plus there were problems fitting guidelines to the starboard stern of the Bayesian as she was lying on rock.
Already by 8am much of the boat was out of the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean in front of the fishing hamlet of Porticello on the Italian island of Sicily
The hull of the superyacht Bayesian, which sank near Palermo, Sicily, is lifted by cranes during salvage operations
Inch by inch the vessel’s once pristine blue hull could be seen more clearly as she was slowly lifted by a large marine crane from a depth of 160ft
Mr Lynch, 59, and Hannah, 18, were among seven people who died when the Bayesian sunk in August
But, fortunately for the team, once the mast was removed this allowed her to shift slightly, making the task of slipping a series of eight cables under the hull easier.
Work progressed so quickly that the lift was brought forward by a day and the final stages are expected to be completed by mid morning.
Already by 8am much of the boat was out of the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean, in front of the fishing hamlet of Porticello on the Italian island of Sicily.
As part of the slow and delicate operation water could be seen pumped out of the Bayesian to lighten her and reduce the strain on the Hebo Lift 10 marine crane that was key to the salvage.
Prosecutors have launched an investigation into how Bayesian sank in just 16 minutes and three crew including the New Zealand captain James Cutfield.
This does not necessarily mean charges will follow.
Fifteen people survived the disaster, including the captain and all crew members except the chef.
The death of the diver last month had paused the recovery operation for ten days.
Water is being bumped out of the vessel as she is brought to the surface
As part of the slow and delicate operation water could be seen pumped out of the Bayesian to lighten her
The super yacht Bayesian is raised to the surface off the coast of Porticello, Sicily
Guardrails at the stern of the Bayesian were bent out of shape and she appeared to be resting at a slight angle in the water in a sling style cradle attached to Hebo Lift 10
British tycoon Mike Lynch (pictured) owned the Bayesian, and died on it
Lynch’s daughter Hannah (pictured) died in the sinking as well
The Bayesian superyacht, which sank off the coast of Sicily
Autopsies carried out on Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy reveal they ‘suffocated’ in an air bubble and didn’t drown, reports claim
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A spokesman for TMC Maritime, conducting the recovery operation, had previously said the vessel has been slowly raised from the seabed, 165-feet down, over the past three days to allow the steel lifting straps, slings and harnesses to be secured under the keel.
What became visible for the first time Friday on the surface of the water was the top of the passenger area of the Bayesian where passengers would sit, known as the accommodation area, said a spokesman for TMC Maritime, David Wilson.
The estimated £20 million salvage operation has been hit by misfortune with the death of a diver last month and bad weather causing delays, adding to the fear among locals Bayesian was ‘cursed’.
A source with TMC Marine told MailOnline: ‘It was scheduled for Saturday but with the good weather and the accelerated progress things moved quickly on Friday and she was brought to the surface earlier than planned.
‘She will remain half submerged until Saturday when the final lift will take place and she will then be sailed to a specially built cradle on the dockside.’
