Tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht has been fully raised above water for the first time since it sank off the coast of Sicily.
Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off the Italian island on August 19, including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18.
The 56-metre (184ft) yacht was seen being held above the water by one of Europe’s most powerful sea cranes near the fishing town of Porticello on Saturday afternoon.
The yacht’s propeller, rudder and keel all appeared to be intact.
It was then lowered again slightly, and salvage crews say that on Sunday it will be moved to Termini Imerese – where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based.
On Saturday morning, workers could be seen on the vessel, which is covered in mud and algae, while the canopy and guard rails are mangled.
The full word “Bayesian” could be seen on the stern of the yacht, and a ladder, which Italian coastguard officials say was originally on the ship to allow passengers to disembark, was seen cracked and pointed upwards on the starboard side.
Also visible on the top deck was the stump of the mast.
Salvage workers say there were 18,000 litres of fuel on board.
Investigators in the UK and Italy say raising the vessel is crucial to fully understanding what happened.
Balloon-like kit will be used to lift the Bayesian’s mast, a project insider said.
The yacht’s 72-metre (236ft) mast was cut off on Tuesday using a remote-controlled tool and rested on the seabed.
He told PA: “Lifting bags will be used on the mast, but this will not start until Tuesday or Wednesday.
“In the interim, the salvors on-site not accompanying Bayesian to port will be conducting a full sweep of the seabed site for any potential debris.”
Meanwhile, Michele Maltese, of the Italian coastguard, told reporters that thermal cameras were used to check for any potential fuel leaks.
A local law investigator was also at the scene, he said.
Marcus Cave of British firm TMC Marine, which is overseeing the salvage efforts, said: “This was a complex and precise lifting operation to recover Bayesian, and followed a step-by-step programme of salvage work.
“The salvage team has progressed in a systematic way that prioritised the safety of all working on site and minimised any potential impact on the environment.
“This care for personnel and for the environment will continue as Bayesian is transported into port tomorrow.”
The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month, but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment.
About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation, which began last month.
Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals.
Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigators said in an interim report that the Bayesian was knocked over by “extreme wind”.
The yacht had a vulnerability to winds, but the owner and crew would not have known, the report said.
US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, also died in the sinking.
Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued.
Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London, and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks in Kent.
The tycoon founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was cleared in June last year of carrying out a massive fraud over the sale of the firm to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.
The boat trip was a celebration of his acquittal in the case in the US.
