People close to the situation said that the mast of the superyacht, which sank in Sicily last summer, killing British tech titan Mike Lynch along with six other people, would be dismantled next month. The British-flagged Bayesian was found lying on its back at a depth around 50 meters (164 feet) and could explain why the vessel sank during a sudden thunderstorm near Porticello in Palermo.

Italian officials who refused to give their names because they were not authorised to comment on the issue said that the salvage operation would be managed by a joint-venture of Dutch companies HEBO and Smit Salvage.

Both companies were not immediately available for comment.

One source said that a ship carrying the mega crane HEBO lift 10 had left Rotterdam, and was currently sailing off of the French Atlantic Coast. It will take 10-12 days to reach Porticello.

On board the Bayesian were 22 people, 15 of which survived. Nine of the ten crew members, as well as Lynch's spouse and the company that owned the Bayesian were among the survivors. Lynch's daughter died along with the others. Italian prosecutors have chosen a project headed by TMC Marine Consultants Ltd. This involves pulling out the mast of 72 metres before the rest to protect the hull of the ship and any evidence that may be contained within.

The complexity of the salvage plan led to the rejection of other potential plans. These included turning the 55.9 metre yacht, weighing 534 tons, nearly 90 degrees on its seabed, without dismantling the mast.

Three crew members are under investigation by prosecutors in the town of Termini, near Palermo: Captain James Cutfield and ship engineer Tim Parker Eaton.

The suspects are accused of manslaughter, and causing the shipwreck.

The Bayesian must be removed from the water, according to the prosecutors. (Reporting and writing by Wladimir Pantaleone, editing by Gavin Jones, Sharon Singleton, and Giselda Vasgnoni)

(source: Reuters)