Specialist divers examining the sunken $40 million superyacht off Sicily have expressed worries about safeguarding the vessel due to potential sensitive data locked in its safes. The yacht, known as the Bayesian, tragically sank in August, claiming the lives of eight individuals, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch.
Italian Prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the incident, suspecting that the yacht may contain highly classified information linked to various Western intelligence services. Lynch, associated with British and American intelligence agencies through his companies, including Darktrace, had close ties to government officials.
The sunken vessel, resting at a depth of 50 meters, is believed to house watertight safes with super-encrypted hard drives containing passcodes and sensitive data. Divers have extensively searched the wreckage, with concerns shifting from potential theft of valuables to safeguarding the data from foreign governments.
Authorities have implemented additional security measures to protect the wreckage until it can be raised for further investigation. The tragic incident claimed the lives of Lynch, his daughter, and other prominent individuals, with preliminary autopsy results indicating different causes of death.
Survivors revealed Lynch's cautious approach to data security, always storing drives in a secure compartment on the yacht. The investigation also uncovered details about the purpose of the ill-fated cruise, which was reportedly a celebration following Lynch's acquittal in a US fraud case.
Efforts are underway to raise the vessel without causing environmental damage or compromising any sensitive data onboard. The costs of salvaging the ship will be the responsibility of Lynch's widow, in accordance with Italian maritime law.
