Tragic shipwreck in Sicily: the mysteries of the wreck prompt increased surveillance

In mid-August, a tragedy at sea shook Sicily when a yacht sank off the coast of Palermo, killing seven people, including the famous British businessman Mike Lynch. The 56-metre luxury yacht, the Bayesian, was hit by a waterspout and sank within minutes, taking a number of influential people with it.

More than a month after the disaster, expert divers are still examining the wreck, which is still lying at a depth of 50 metres. The potential discovery of ‘sensitive data’ on board has prompted the authorities to step up security around the site, according to CNN in a report published on 21 September.

A yacht linked to intelligence services?

The Bayesian could contain confidential information belonging to various Western intelligence services, according to anonymous sources close to the investigation. Inside the wreck are safes containing two encrypted hard drives. These are said to contain access codes to sensitive data, making the situation particularly worrying.

The Italian authorities have therefore accepted a formal request to step up surveillance of the site until the wreck has been fully recovered. This measure is intended to prevent any attempt to recover the disks by foreign powers, in particular Russia or China, which could be interested in the confidential information kept by Mike Lynch.

A tech magnate with close links to the British government

Mike Lynch, nicknamed the ‘British Bill Gates’, was not only a titan of technology, but also a former high-level adviser to the British prime ministers, Theresa May and David Cameron. He also maintained relations with British intelligence services and other countries. His hard drives, stored in the safe of his yacht, were reputed to be his way of protecting confidential data wherever he went.

Investigators’ fears about the possible recovery of the discs by foreign actors are growing as the rescue operations continue.

A swift shipwreck and influential victims

In addition to Mike Lynch, the seven victims of the sinking included his daughter Hannah, Jonathan Bloomer, Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, his wife Judy, and lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda. Morvillo had defended Lynch in a trial in the United States, where the businessman was facing stiff penalties for fraud. The group were celebrating their acquittal on the yacht at the time of the tragedy.

Within minutes, the boat was engulfed by the sea after a sudden waterspout. Fifteen of the passengers on board were rescued.

Ongoing investigation

Sicilian prosecutors are continuing their investigation to determine who may have been responsible for the tragedy. Captain James Cutfield and two members of the crew are being investigated on suspicion of shipwreck and manslaughter. The operation to recover the safes and any data they may contain remains a priority, while security around the wreck site is under close scrutiny.