ITALIAN authorities are “investigating shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable manslaughter” after doomed super-yacht Bayesian capsized off the coast of Sicily.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Termini Imerese, led by Ambrogio Cartosio, is working to find out why the luxury vessel capsized off the coast of Porticello near Palermo shortly before 5am on Monday.
EPAThe £14million luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday[/caption]
ReutersDivers head out to the wreck site this morning to scour for the final missing passenger[/caption]
It is investigating offences of shipwreck and multiple culpable murder – similar to the charge of manslaughter in the UK – against unknown persons, according to Italian media.
Reports suggest investigators have been examining videos and photographs taken on the night of the storm by locals, as well as CCTV footage of the port.
The Prosecutor’s Office are also reviewing the actions and decisions made by the Bayesian’s Captain James Cutfield, 51, and Matthew Griffith, 22, who is understood to be the first officer, according to local newspaper Palermo Today.
It comes as rescue workers continue to search for the last missing person on board the yacht.
The vessel’s chef Recaldo Thomas was found dead in the water soon after the boat capsized on Monday.
Four bodies were recovered by specialist divers on Wednesday, with a fifth brought into the harbour on Thursday.
They have been identified as British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, and Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his jewellery designer wife Neda.
The body of Mike Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who received her A-Level results last week, is yet to be found by divers.
But the Italian Coastguard says it is confident there will be significant progress in the search today (FRI).
Asked if any developments are expected, spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola replied: “We trust”.
Eight of the specialist divers searching for the missing student are understood to be using a Nitrox air mix in their tanks – which is made up of more Oxygen and less nitrogen, according to Italian newspaper Rai News.
This reduces the risk of decompression sickness and allows them to dive deeper and for longer periods of time.