A $40 million superyacht, the Bayesian, sank off the coast of Sicily in August. The tragedy claimed seven lives, including British tech mogul Mike Lynch. Now, as investigators delve deeper into the wreck, the case has taken a turn that extends far beyond the initial investigation into the cause of the shipwreck.
Specialist divers tasked with surveying the wreckage have raised alarms about the sensitive nature of what might be hidden inside the sunken vessel’s safes—namely, encrypted data that could draw the interest of foreign governments like Russia and China.
Italian prosecutors have already launched a criminal probe into charges of manslaughter and negligent shipwreck, and it seems this investigation might uncover more than just clues about the fateful night of the sinking. Sources have suggested that Lynch’s yacht may contain highly sensitive information linked to Western intelligence services, which could heighten the stakes in an already tragic event.
Lynch, known for his ties to cybersecurity through the company Darktrace, had close associations with British and American intelligence agencies. Given his involvement in high-level security matters, officials fear that the hard drives onboard could contain encrypted data vital to national security—think passcodes, classified information, and more. According to those working on the salvage mission, these watertight safes onboard the Bayesian could potentially hold a treasure trove of data that, if compromised, would pose significant risks.
Originally, local authorities were concerned about looters trying to retrieve valuables such as jewelry, but as the investigation unfolded, it became clear that more than just treasure hunters might be interested in the wreckage. Government bodies, particularly in Russia and China, may have their sights set on accessing this data. That has prompted officials to bolster security efforts, both above and below the water, to ensure the vessel remains secure until it can be raised.
Adding to the situation’s complications is the fact that the ship went down in a violent storm, sinking within just 16 minutes. While no personal effects, such as Lynch’s hard drives or computers, have been recovered yet, divers have retrieved data from the yacht’s navigation system, which could hold vital clues about how the ship sank so quickly. Without a traditional voyage data recorder, investigators are working from limited information. But one thing is clear: the presence of sensitive data has cast a shadow over what was already a high-profile case.
Onboard that night were Lynch, his daughter Hannah, and several others, including American lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, British banker Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, and the ship’s chef, Recaldo Thomas—all of whom tragically perished. Lynch’s widow, Angela Bacares, survived along with 14 others, including the yacht’s captain, who is now under investigation. In the aftermath, survivors revealed that Lynch had been celebrating his recent acquittal in a US fraud case and that he did not trust cloud services, preferring to keep sensitive data stored in secure compartments on the yacht.
Adding a bizarre twist, Lynch’s business partner, Stephen Chamberlain, died the very same day the Bayesian sank after suffering injuries in a car accident two days earlier. While Chamberlain passed away in a coma, oblivious to the tragedy at sea, the eerie coincidence has only deepened the mystery surrounding the sinking.
As divers continue their work, they face a delicate task. The wreck is still full of oil and fuel, and raising the yacht without causing environmental damage is a major challenge. But for now, the focus remains on securing the classified data and uncovering the true cause of this devastating shipwreck, leaving Lynch’s widow to not only grapple with her grief but also the responsibility of handling a potential international data crisis.
