Italian authorities are expanding their investigation into the tragic death of seven people on the yacht Bayesian off the coast of Palermo to include two more crew members and the vessel’s captain, according to Italian news agencies.
The tragic incident occurred on August 19 when the 56-meter British-flagged yacht sank off Palermo during a storm. Among the victims was British businessman Mike Lynch and six others. Authorities are now investigating the yacht’s engineer, Tim Parker Eaton, and sailor Matthew Griffith. It is worth noting that the investigation does not imply charges but is a procedural step.
Tim Parker Eaton, according to the Daily Mail, was responsible for the safe operation of the engine room and yacht systems, while Matthew Griffith was on duty the night of the incident.
The rapid sinking of the vessel has puzzled maritime experts, who believe that a yacht of the Bayesian’s caliber, built by the top Italian company Perini, should have withstood the storm and certainly should not have sunk so quickly.
The prosecutors in Palermo have stated that the investigation will be lengthy and will require the salvage of the wreck. Giovanni Costantino, head of the company that built the Bayesian, expressed his belief that multiple errors were made on board. “At the back of the yacht, a hatch must have been left open,” he said, “and perhaps a side entrance that allowed water to enter.”
“Before the storm, the captain should have closed all entrances, lifted the anchor, activated the engine, pointed the boat into the wind, and lowered the trim tab,” he added. The trim tab is a large fin protruding from the base of the boat. “This would have stabilized the yacht, allowing them to navigate the storm and continue their cruise comfortably,” he said.
Currently, the Bayesian lies on its side at a depth of about 50 meters. The Italian coast guard is conducting environmental monitoring at the site of the wreck to prevent possible fuel leaks from the vessel. So far, there have been no leaks from the tanks or signs of oil pollution, according to a coast guard statement on Wednesday.
“The captain constantly says he tried to save everyone; he did not abandon anyone,” says the captain’s defense.
The yacht sank within minutes while anchored off the northern coast of Sicily during the night. On Monday, the 51-year-old yacht captain, James Cutfield from New Zealand, was placed under investigation for manslaughter and causing the sinking.
During questioning on Tuesday, the captain refused to answer the prosecutors’ questions, with his lawyer, Giovanni Rizzuti, stating: “The captain exercised his right to remain silent for two main reasons. First, he is extremely exhausted. Second, we were only appointed on Monday, and to ensure proper defense, we need data that we currently do not have.”
James Cutfield continuously reassures those around him—according to the “Corriere della Sera”—that he did not abandon anyone and did everything possible to save everyone, both crew and passengers. He even notes that at one point, water had invaded everything and it was impossible to board the sinking vessel.
Aside from the offenses prosecutors are bringing against him, this (the abandonment of passengers) is the accusation that haunts the captain from North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand, who is living through the darkest days of his life.
