an unexpected weather event believed to have been the cause of a deadly yacht sinking off the Italian coast, investigators aren’t ruling out criminal charges just yet.
On Wednesday August 28, 2024, Prosecutor Ambrogio of Sicily’s Termini Immerse announced a probe into whether the actions of crew members (or lack thereof) caused the ill-fated Bayesian to claim the lives of seven people, according to the BBC. Criminal manslaughter and negligent shipwreck charges are possible for some aboard the 184-foot sailing luxury yacht, which sank off the coast of north Sicily’s Porticello on Aug. 19, 2024, when a violent and sudden storm swept the area at around 4:00 a.m.
As reported by CNN on Monday morning, the inquiry extends to the ship’s captain, New Zealander James .
“For me, it is probable that offenses were committed — that it could be a case of manslaughter — but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate,” Cartosio told reporters, according to the British outlet.
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It was widely reported that sudden weather phenomena, including tornadoes, caused the British-flagged ship to capsize. But according to Cartoon, an in-depth investigation would determine whether death could have been avoided despite what is now believed to have been an unexpected wind, per BBC.
Fire rescue on a boat after searching for missing people after the luxury yacht Bayesian sank
The fire service dive boat returns to Porticello harbour on the fifth day of the search and recovery operation, after the luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm on Friday August 23, 2024. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images
“There are many possibilities for culpability,” said , according to CNN. “It could just be the captain. It could be the whole crew. It could be the Guard. We are evaluating all of the factors to see whose behavior fault can be assigned to.”
Once the ship can be salvaged from the sea floor, then investigators can determine whether hatches had been open, which could account for why it only took 16 minutes for the ship to completely sink. Operations remain challenging, however, as the boat — described by Vincenzo of the Italian Coast Guard as an “18-story building full of water” — remains 160 feet below the surface.
The potential discovery of the vessel’s black box could also help authorities understand the cause behind the maritime disaster.
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