bill gates new yacht hydrogen

Inside world’s first ever $1 billion hydrogen superyacht – and it’s linked to Bill Gates

The world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell superyacht has been unveiled in Amsterdam. It has taken Feadship 5 years to deliver Project 821, reportedly commissioned by Bill Gates.

Project 821 features 12 guest staterooms, two staff cabins, accommodation for 44 crew members, a hospital, library, elevator, cinema, pool with a moveable glass bottom, multiple hot tubs, steam room, a gym, separate owners deck with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two offices, and fourteen slide-out balconies.

What makes the Project 821 Feadship superyacht truly exceptional, however, is it is hydrogen-powered.

Jamie Edmiston, the CEO of yacht brokerage company Edmiston, represents the owner and is brokering the sale for a reported $1-billion. Edmiston says no expense was spared to build the groundbreaking vessel.

“The brief was to build the greenest and most environmentally advanced yacht ever built, without compromise,” says Edmiston. “It was a huge challenge, but one that the team has embraced and delivered on. The yacht we see today, designed by RWD and built by Feadship is without doubt the best yacht ever built. I am proud to have been involved since the inception of this idea.”

Neither Edmiston nor Feadship have revealed who commissioned the superyacht. eSysman Superyachts reported in April that it belongs to Bill Gates.

Jan-Bart Verkuyl, the CEO of Feadship Royal Van Lent shipyard, says pushing green superyacht technology as far as it could go was the mandate to develop of the vessel.

 “The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world,” Verkuyl says. Feadship has pledged to develop ‘net-zero’ yachts by 2030 and has an R&D team researching hydrogen and other fossil-fuel-free alternatives.

“The size of the proposed yacht – 100-metres-plus – made it a good candidate to explore pure green hydrogen as the fuel-cell source,” a Feadship statement reads.

“Even a yacht the size of  Project 821  cannot carry enough liquid hydrogen to power a crossing, but Feadship could impact a yacht’s carbon footprint where it is largest — generating electricity to serve the hotel load,” according to Feadship.

A yacht’s hotel load represents 70-78 per cent of a yacht’s annual total energy and heating and air conditioning make the largest demands, Feadship states. Air conditioning is a significant energy consumer on yachts, according to research from a maritime industry body .

“Supplying that electrical power via non-polluting hydrogen fuel cells has a swift and significant impact,” according to Feadship.

“Although there are hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars, and fuel cells have been used as the primary source of electrical power on human spaceflight for more than six decades, nothing existed in the maritime sector. There were no regulations for hydrogen storage and fuel-cell systems at class, flag-state or even the International Maritime Organisation level,” Feadship states.

Feadship, Edmiston and Lloyd’s Register developed new equipment, protocols and regulations for hydrogen to be used in the maritime industry. Feadship states that hydrogen fuel cells have water as their only exhaust, and are a combustion-free way to generate electricity.

“Project 821 features the most efficient waste heat recovery system yet developed, a system heating everything from the pool, Jacuzzi and steam room to the ambient air temperature and towel bars and floors in the guest bathrooms. Further savings in the hotel load will come from a Smart AC system linking sensors to an energy management system that automatically reduces air conditioning or heating in unoccupied guest spaces,” Feadship states.

When pure hydrogen is not available, electricity is generated by MTU generators combusting a biofuel said to reduce emissions by 90 per cent.

The work that has been done to deliver the no-expense-spared Project 821 superyacht is now being used for other vessels.

“The value of the research as well the development of class and flag safety regulations for an entirely new type of energy generation is an advancement we are proud to have made available to all,” says Verkuyl.

In 2025, two Norwegian ferries will operate using the system developed for Project 821.

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The World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Superyacht Just Hit the Water

Project 821 uses hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity., rachel cormack.

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A hydrogen-powered superyacht may sound like a far-off sci-fi fantasy, but Feadship has made it a reality.

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Five years in the making, Project 821 is at the bleeding edge of marine innovation. Designed by British studio RWD, the vessel uses hydrogen to power both the propulsion system and hotel load to eliminate carbon emissions. The 290-footer is also the largest yacht built by Feadship to date, meaning it could easily hold the requisite fuel cells, battery banks, and hydrogen tanks.

For the unversed, fuel cells are a combustion-free way to generate electricity. The fuel cell turns hydrogen into electricity that can be used or stored in lithium-ion battery banks. The only emission is water vapor. The automotive and aerospace industries have already embraced fuel cells, but the marine sector had to overcome some design issues and safety regulations before incorporating the technology. How to store compressed liquid hydrogen below deck at -423.4 degrees Fahrenheit is one such hurdle Feadship had to overcome.

Hydrogen is light but must be held in large, cumbersome tanks. In fact, Feadship says it takes eight to 10 times more space to store the hydrogen than the equivalent in diesel fuel. In the case of Project 821, the yard added 13 feet to the vessel’s original length to accommodate a large tank that holds more than four tons of hydrogen, 16 compact fuel cells, and the vent stacks. Even a yacht of such proportions cannot carry enough liquid hydrogen to power a crossing, but there is enough to generate electricity for short trips and the hotel load. The fuel cell technology can provide an entire week’s worth of silent operation at anchor or allow the yacht to cruise emission-free at 10 knots for a short period.

In instances when pure hydrogen is not an option, MTU generators running on HVO biofuel will send power to the 3,200 kW ABB pod drives. As you might expect, the yacht features an advanced energy management system that helps reduce power usage onboard.

Project 821 is by no means short on luxury, either. Showcasing an elegant, modern silhouette, the behemoth offers five decks above the waterline and two below. It also has the most hull openings of any vessel in the Feadship fleet, with 14 balconies, five shell doors, and seven fold-out platforms.

Penned by GA, the elegant interior pairs a neutral palette with textured fabrics to create a luxe coastal vibe. The epic owner’s deck is equipped with two bedrooms, dual bathrooms, twin dressing rooms, a gym, a pantry, two offices with fireplaces, a living room, and an outdoor terrace with a Jacuzzi. The owner can then take a private elevator to the coffee corner and games area on the bridge deck, the library on the main deck, or the private dining room. In this way, Project 821 evokes a four-level townhouse by the sea.

The best part? ​​Project 821 is for sale with Edmiston.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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World's first hydrogen-powered superyacht — 'commissioned by Bill Gates' — hits the water and goes on sale for €600m

Dutch shipbuilder Feadship says technology developed for 'Project 821' is being used for Norway’s landmark H2 ferries

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The World's First Hydrogen-Powered Superyacht Has a $644 Million Price Tag

Superyachts seemed to be among the last modes of (luxe) transportation to bend toward the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly engine designs. But if news from last week’s Monaco Yacht Show served as a bellwether, the industry meant to cater to the wealthiest among us made a progressive splash with the unveiling of Aqua, the world's first hydrogen-powered superyacht.

Designed by the Dutch firm Sinot Yacht & Architecture Design, Aqua is a nearly 400-foot-long vessel that's run entirely by a renewable energy source. "Water is the eternal fuel of life, the life-sustaining force that makes planet Earth habitable," says Sander Sinot, founder of the firm that bears his name. "Water is soft, yet at the same time it cuts through hard rocks." It was this appreciation of water that helped the firm find balance between the natural world and the technological. The propulsion system is made up of two 28-ton vacuumed tanks that each contain liquified hydrogen which are stored at -423 degrees Fahrenheit. Along with being eco-friendly, hydrogen-based energy means for a quieter experience aboard the ship in comparison to traditional engines. That said, there will be backup diesel generators handy should the captain ever need them.

The infinity pool aboard AQUA. 

There was much confusion on Monday if there was already a buyer who had paid the hefty $644 million price tag. Reports spread throughout the internet that billionaire Bill Gates had purchased the superyacht, rumors that proved to be false. Yet readers couldn't be blamed for believing such reports, as images show Aqua to include its own infinity pool, helipad, spa, and gym—amenities meant to attract billionaires such as Gates.

An aerial view of the superyacht shows how close passengers can get to the water, as well as the cascading design of the infinity pool.

Sinot and his team designed the vessel to safely bring passengers as close to the water as possible. "Water is relaxation; it makes us calmer and more creative," Sinot comments. "We wanted to provide those on board with the closest possible proximity to the water. The aft deck features an innovative series of platforms cascading down towards the sea, while a large swim platform allows all passengers to enjoy the optimal experience of accessing the water at sea level."

One of the bedrooms inside of Aqua shows a minimalist aesthetic. 

Aqua can reach speeds of up to 19.5 mph and features enough room for 14 guests and 31 crew members. The firm plans to complete the vessel by 2024.

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Welcome aboard the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell superyacht

By Andrew Paul

Posted on May 7, 2024 11:13 AM EDT

3 minute read

Superyachts are notoriously dirty luxury toys , with a single billionaire’s boat emitting as much as 7,020 tons of CO2 per year. And while it’s unlikely uber-wealthy shoppers are going to forgo from their statement vessels anytime soon, at the very least there’s now a chance to make superyachts greener. That’s the idea behind the new Project 821 , billed as the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell superyacht.

Announced over the weekend by Danish shipyard cooperative Feadship, Project 821 arrives following five years of design and construction. Measuring a massive 260-feet-long, the zero-diesel boat reportedly sails shorter distances than standard superyachts on the market, but still operates its hotel load and amenities using completely emissionless green hydrogen power.

Hydrogen cells generate power by turning extremely lightweight liquid hydrogen into electricity stored in lithium-ion batteries. But unlike fossil fuel engines’ noxious smoke and other pollutants, hydrogen cells only emit harmless water vapor. The technology remained cost-prohibitive and logistically challenging for years, but recent advancements have allowed designers to start integrating the green alternative into cars , planes , and boats .

There are still hurdles, however. Although lightweight, liquid hydrogen must be housed in massive, double-walled -423.4 degrees Fahrenheit cryogenic storage tanks within a dedicated section of the vessel. According to Feadship , liquid hydrogen requires 8-10 times more storage space for the same amount of energy created by diesel fuel. That—along with 16 fuel cells, a switchboard connection for the DC electrical grid, and water vapor emission vent stacks—necessitated adding an extra 13-feet to the vessel’s original specifications. But these size requirements ironically makes superyachts such as Project 821 arguably ideal for hydrogen fuel cell integration.

And it certainly sounds like Project 821 fulfills the “superyacht” prerequisites, with five decks above the waterline and two below it. The 14 balconies and seven fold-out platforms also house a pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, gym, pantry, fireplace-equipped offices, living room, library, and a full walkaround deck.

Such luxuries, however, will need to remain relatively close-to-harbor for the time being. Project 821 still isn’t capable of generating and storing enough power to embark on lengthy crossings, but it can handle an “entire week’s worth of silent operation at anchor or [briefly] navigating emission-free at 10 knots while leaving harbors or cruising in protected marine zones,” according to Feadship.

[Related: This liquid hydrogen-powered plane successfully completed its first test flights .]

“We have now shown that cryogenic storage of liquified hydrogen in the interior of a superyacht is a viable solution,” Feadship Director and Royal Van Lent Shipyard CEO Jan-Bart Verkuyl said in the recent announcement, adding that “additional fuel cell innovations… are on the near horizon.”

Of course, the greenest solution remains completely divesting from ostentatious, multimillion-dollar vanity flotillas before rising sea levels (and angry orcas ) overwhelm even the wealthiest billionaires’ harbors. But it’s at least somewhat nice to see a new eco-friendly advancement on the market—even if it still looks like a Bond villain’s getaway vehicle.

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By Syris Valentine & Naveena Sadasivam / Grist

5 years in the making, eco-warrior Bill Gates’ hydrogen fuel-cell-powered megayacht is finally ready. A first of its kind in the world, the 373 feet long vessel has stealth balconies that pop out with the press of a button, multiple libraries, fireplaces, a private elevator, and a hospital

Bill Gates’ megayacht is equal parts clean and smart –

The stunning five-decker is a win-win vessel for an eco-conscious billionaire . From being innately clean, it even flaunts an efficient waste heat recovery system. It heats everything from the pool, Jacuzzi, and steam room to the ambient air temperature and towel bars and floors in the guest bathrooms. A Smart AC system includes sensors that automatically reduce air conditioning or heating in unoccupied guest spaces. Talk about a smart superyacht, and it could have only come from the genius of a tech tycoon! Back in 2020, rumor mills went abuzz with reports that Bill Gates pledged well over $600 million to build a 376-foot-long, hydrogen-powered superyacht concept. Guess there is no smoke without fire, and the result is now out of dry dock for all to see.

[All images of the Feadship Project 821 provided by Feadship]

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Bill Gates Yacht: Everything You Want To Know

In 2020 the yachting world was abuzz with news that Bill Gates had bought as stunning and advanced yacht known as Project Aqua. The massive, 370-foot concept yacht was revealed in 2019 at the Monaco Yacht Show and news soon followed that billionaire Bill Gates, once the richest man in the world and the founder of Microsoft, had commissioned the construction of his own hydrogen-powered Aqua. But that never actually happened and, in fact, as near as anyone can tell for real, Bill Gates doesn’t own a yacht at all. 

So where did the story come from? What’s the deal with the Aqua? And hasn’t Bill Gates been pictured on a yacht before? Let’s get some answers.

How Much Did the Aqua Yacht Cost at the Monaco Yacht Show?

According to the stories online, Bill Gates paid $600 million for the hydrogen powered yacht. But that’s not true at all. According to the yacht makers, the Dutch company Sinot, the price tag is $645 million but no one bought it after it was revealed at the Monaco Yacht Show, and that includes Bill Gates. It’s expensive but definitely not the most expensive in the world.

How Fast is the Aqua Yacht?

Aqua is a unique yacht in the yachting world which is why it garnered so much attention in the first place. It’s the first mega yacht that runs on a fully operational liquid hydrogen and fuel cell system that features two hydrogen engines that can produce 1,341 horsepower. The top speed is 17 knots and  the Aqua has a cruising speed of 12 knots. The total range is 3,750 nautical miles. The liquid hydrogen is stored in two 28-ton vacuum sealed tanks where it can be held at -253 degrees C. The only exhaust is water.

What Does the Interior of  the Aqua Yacht Look Like?

The Aqua has 7 suites meant to house up to 14 guests at any given time. Two of those suites are larger VIP cabins. The ceilings throughout are 9 feet and stretch as high as 12.5 feet elsewhere thanks to the luxury Sinot yacht architecture. The vessel has room for a crew of 31 as well. The beach deck lounge aboard the boat alone looks like a luxury hotel space.

The Aqua features a bow observation room which is surrounded by windows to give a panoramic view of the ocean which has been described as the “ultimate superyacht owners lounge.” In addition, there’s a movie theater on the upper deck. It also includes a wellness center with a hydro massage room. You can also do some yoga in a workout space. There’s a fully equipped gym, a beauty salon, and even a hairdresser.

Up on the main deck there’s a luxury swimming pool that even includes a waterfall. One of the yacht’s defining features is the spiral staircase that covers all five decks and is covered by a skylight. On the way up it also offers a view of the interior of the hydrogen fuel tanks so you can see just what 56 tons of ultra cold liquid hydrogen looks like as you move between decks. 

The tender garage has an array of toys such as jet skis while the main deck features a beach club with a dining area designed for all 14 guests and a lounge that converts into the cinema space.

What Yacht Has Bill Gates Actually Been On?

Bill Gates does seem to like yachts, just not enough to spend his money owning one, and that’s fair. Yachts cost millions to maintain every year. No one got rich spending millions to maintain a boat.

That said, Bill Gates has not only vacationed on yachts – he spent his 66th birthday on one – he also got married on a yacht.

In 2021, Gates made the news when he celebrated his 66th on board a luxury yacht called the Lana alongside Jeff Bezos. He spent $2 million to charter the yacht for a week and flew 50 guests out to celebrate with him. 

The Lana is a 351 foot yacht with room for 12 guests and a cruising speed of 12 knots with a max speed of 18 knots. The master suite is 1,184 square feet. The room features his and hers walk-in dressing rooms and a private terrace.

Elsewhere on board you’ll find a piano in the lounge area as well as a full gym for working out. There’s both a sauna and a well-appointed spa as well. On deck you can head to the beach club or take a dip in the pool. 

There are three tenders in the garage alongside a bunch of toys including various jetskis, a seabob, wakeboards, WindSurfers, fishing equipment, scuba diving equipment and more. 

Back in 2014, Gates rented an even more expensive yacht, the $5 million per week Serene, to go on a vacation with his family. The Serene, once owned by  Russian vodka magnate Yuri Shelfer before being purchased by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, clocked in at a massive 450 feet making it one of the world’s biggest and even had its own on board submarine

The Serene features 7 decks, a saltwater pool, a climbing wall, a surprisingly large library, health spa, outdoor cinema and a nightclub. This is all spread across 48,000 square feet.

It’s also been confirmed that Gates met his wife Melinda on a yacht owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, all the way back in 1994. 

Why Do People Think Bill Gates Owns the Aqua?

It’s easy to see why people may have thought Gates owned the Aqua when you consider a handful of factors. First, as mentioned, we have lots of evidence that Bill Gates really does enjoy luxury yachts. The extremely high price tag was something that only a few people in the world are going to be able to afford and Gates, who doesn’t own a yacht, seems like a likely candidate for those reasons. 

In addition, Gates has spent several years now as a climate activist and has supported a number of green technologies. A yacht that runs on hydrogen seems like something he would support as well. So, with no real evidence, the circumstantial evidence was enough to easily convince people. Once it’s presented as fact on the internet, and it was in many articles and videos, few people had reason to question it. 

The Bottom Line

The mega yacht known as the Aqua has a price tag of $645 million and it runs on clan burning hydrogen fuel. The only byproduct of its operation is water, making it a very environmentally friendly yacht. It made waves, so to speak, when it debuted at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019. Rumors soon began to spread that billionaire and known climate activist Bill Gates had ordered one for $600 million. However, despite many videos and articles that refer to him as the owner, the truth is no one bought the Aqua at the yacht show and, as of 2023, Bill Gates does not own a yacht at all. He is know to charter extremely luxurious yachts for vacations and parties, such as the Lana and the Serene, but he does not own any just now.

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'Britain's Bill Gates' among 6 missing after luxury yacht tragedy off coast of Sicily: 'We should have found something by now'

Computer entrepreneur Mike Lynch recently won a long-running legal battle against HP.

The British entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among six people missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm. The Guardian reports that 22 people were onboard when the vessel sank, of whom 15 have been rescued by the Italian coastguard and firefighters, including a one year-old child, while one person has died.

Lynch and his 18 year-old daughter Hannah are among three Britons that remain missing, while his wife, Angela Bacares, has been rescued. Two Americans and a Canadian are also missing.

A statement from the Italian coastguard reads: "This morning at about 5:00 am, following a violent storm, a 56-metre yacht called Bayesian flying the British flag sank near Porticello." 

Local reports said the boat sank after being hit by a waterspout, a mix of wind and water that can form in storms and is often referred to as a mini-tornado. The BBC reports that fishers saw the waterspout off the coast at around 3:55 am local time, and shortly afterwards saw a distress flare that may have come from the Bayesian. Approaching, they found only "scattered remains of the sailboat floating in the water."

Eight of those rescued, including the baby, are now in local hospitals in a stable condition. The captain of a nearby boat told reporters he had taken on 15 survivors from a life raft, and that the Bayesian was "heeling" (listing to one side) before it went under.

The one year-old was saved by her mother, who held her daughter's head above the water while screaming for rescue. "It was all dark," said the woman, named by the BBC as British citizen Charlotte Golunski. "In the water, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I was screaming for help, but all I could hear around me were the screams of others."

The Bayesian is owned by Revtom, a firm registered in the Isle of Man of which Angela Bacares is the sole owner. The luxury yacht can carry 12 guests and a crew of ten. 

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Lynch is best-known for founding Autonomy Corporation in the 1990s, a software company that was bought for $11.1 billion by Hewlett-Packard in 2011. In recent years he had been in the news after HP launched legal action against Lynch and others over the sale , alleging they had exaggerated the firm's numbers and misled regulators to dupe HP into the sale. Lynch was extradited to the US, and won the case earlier this year. Dubbed " Britain's Bill Gates " by some, Lynch is also a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society.

After being acquitted in the HP case and returning to the UK, Lynch said "I am looking forward to returning to the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field."

The Italian Coastguard remains searching, with both divers and helicopter teams involved. They have located the wreck approximately 50 metres below the surface. The operation will continue through the night, with further specialist teams travelling to the scene.

"We think [the bodies] must be there [in the wreckage]," Francesco Venuto of Sicily's civil protection agency told the BBC. "We've been searching all day with helicopters and boats, we've found nothing. That wouldn't make sense, in these conditions we should have found something by now."

"We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Sicily," said a spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, "and stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals affected."

Rich is a games journalist with 15 years' experience, beginning his career on Edge magazine before working for a wide range of outlets, including Ars Technica, Eurogamer, GamesRadar+, Gamespot, the Guardian, IGN, the New Statesman, Polygon, and Vice. He was the editor of Kotaku UK, the UK arm of Kotaku, for three years before joining PC Gamer. He is the author of a Brief History of Video Games, a full history of the medium, which the Midwest Book Review described as "[a] must-read for serious minded game historians and curious video game connoisseurs alike."

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Lynch Yacht Sinking Off Sicily Proves as Baffling as It Is Tragic

As bodies were recovered, the authorities and experts wondered how a $40 million, stable and secure vessel could have sunk so quickly.

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By Emma Bubola and Michael J. de la Merced

Emma Bubola reported from Porticello, Italy, and Michael J. de la Merced from London.

Two months after being cleared in a bruising legal battle over fraud charges, the British tech mogul Mike Lynch celebrated his freedom with a cruise. He invited his family, friends and part of his legal team on board his luxury sailing yacht, a majestic 180-foot vessel named Bayesian after the mathematical theorem around which he had built his empire.

On Sunday night, after a tour of the Gulf of Naples, including Capri, and volcanic islands in the Eolian archipelago, the boat anchored half a mile off the Sicilian coast in Porticello, Italy. It chose a stretch of water favored by the Phoenicians thousands of years ago for its protection from the mistral wind and, in more recent times, by the yachts of tech billionaires. The boat was lit “like a Christmas tree,” local residents said, standing out against the full moon.

But about 4 a.m., calamity unfolded. A violent and fast storm hit the area with some of the strongest winds locals said they had ever felt. Fabio Cefalù, a fisherman, said he saw a flare pierce the darkness shortly after 4.

Minutes later, the yacht was underwater. Only dozens of cushions from the boat’s deck and a gigantic radar from its mast floated on the surface of the sea, fishermen said.

In all, 22 people were on board, 15 of whom were rescued. Six bodies — five passengers and the ship’s cook — had been recovered by Thursday afternoon, including that of Mr. Lynch, an Italian government official said, adding that the search was continuing for his daughter.

It was a tragic and mystifying turn of events for Mr. Lynch, 59, who had spent years seeking to clear his name and was finally inaugurating a new chapter in his life. Experts wondered how a $40 million yacht, so robust and stable could have been sunk by a storm near a port within minutes.

“It drives me insane,” said Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought the company, Perini, that made the Bayesian. “Following all the proper procedures, that boat is unsinkable.”

The aura of misfortune only deepened when it emerged that Stephen Chamberlain, 52, a former vice president of finance for Mr. Lynch’s former company and a co-defendant in the fraud case, was killed two days earlier, when he was hit by a car while jogging near his house in England.

Since June, the two men had been in a jubilant mood. A jury in San Francisco had acquitted both on fraud charges that could have sent them to prison for two decades. There were hugs and tears, and they and their legal teams went for a celebratory dinner party at a restaurant in the city, said Gary S. Lincenberg, a lawyer for Mr. Chamberlain.

The sea excursion was meant as a thank-you by Mr. Lynch to those who had helped him in his legal travails. Among the guests was Christopher J. Morvillo, 59, a scion of a prominent New York family of lawyers who had represented Mr. Lynch for 12 years. He and his wife, Neda, 57, were among the missing.

So, too, was Jonathan Bloomer, 70, a veteran British insurance executive who chaired Morgan Stanley International and the insurer Hiscox.

The body of the ship’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered. All the other crew members survived. Among them was Leo Eppel, 19, of South Africa, who was on his first yacht voyage working as a deck steward, said a friend, who asked not to be identified.

Since the sinking, the recovery effort and investigation have turned the tiny port town of Porticello, a quiet enclave where older men sit bare-chested on balconies, into what feels like the set of a movie.

Helicopters have flown overhead. Ambulances have sped by with the sirens blaring. The Coast Guard has patrolled the waters off shore, within sight of a cordoned-off dock that had been turned into an emergency headquarters.

On Wednesday afternoon, a church bell tolled after the first body bag was loaded into an ambulance, a crowd watching in silence.

The survivors were sheltering in a sprawling resort near Porticello, with a view of the shipwreck spot, and had so far declined to comment.

Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said that the yacht had most likely been hit by a fierce “down burst” — when air generated within a thunderstorm descends rapidly — or by a waterspout , similar to a tornado over water.

He added that his agency had put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about storms and strong winds. Locals said the winds “felt like an earthquake.”

Mr. Costantino, the boat executive, said the yacht had been specifically designed for having a tall mast — the second-tallest aluminum mast in the world. He said the Bayesian was an extremely safe and secure boat that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing.

But he said that if some of the hatches on the side and in the stern, or some of the deck doors, had been open, the boat could have taken on water and sunk. Standard procedure in such storms, he said, is to switch on the engine, lift the anchor and turn the boat into the wind, lowering the keel for extra stability, closing doors and gathering the guests in the main hall inside the deck.

12 guests occupied the yacht’s six cabins. There were also 10 crew members.

Open hatches, doors and cabin windows could have let in water during a storm, according to the manufacturer.

Open hatches, doors and

cabin windows could

have let in water

during a storm,

according to the

manufacturer.

Source: Superyacht Times, YachtCharterFleet, MarineTraffic

By Veronica Penney

The New York Times attempted to reach the captain, James Cutfield, who had survived, for comment through social media, his brother and the management company of the yacht (which did not hire the crew), but did not make contact.

So far none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened that night.

Fabio Genco, the director of Palermo’s emergency services, who treated some of the survivors, said that the victims had recounted feeling as if the boat was being lifted, then suddenly dropped, with objects from the cabins falling on them.

The Italian Coast Guard said it had deployed a remotely operated vehicle that can prowl underwater for up to seven hours at a depth of more than 980 feet and record videos and images that they hoped would help them reconstruct the dynamics of the sinking. Such devices were used during the search and rescue operations of the Titan vessel that is believed to have imploded last summer near the wreckage of the Titanic.

After rescuers broke inside the yacht, they struggled to navigate the ropes and many pieces of furniture cluttering the vessel, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for Italy’s national firefighter corps.

Finally, as of Thursday morning, they had managed to retrieve all but one of the missing bodies, and hopes of finding the missing person alive were thin. “Can a human being be underwater for two days?” Mr. Cari asked.

What was certain was that Mr. Lynch’s death was yet another cruel twist of fate for a man who had spent years seeking to clear his name.

He earned a fortune in technology and was nicknamed Britain’s Bill Gates. But for more than a decade, he had been treated as anything but a respected tech leader.

He was accused by Hewlett-Packard, the American technological pioneer that had bought his software company, Autonomy, for $11 billion, of misleading it about his company’s worth. (Hewlett-Packard wrote down the value of the transaction by about $8.8 billion, and critics called it one of the worst deals of all time .) He had been increasingly shunned by the British establishment that he sought to break into after growing up working-class outside London.

He was extradited to San Francisco to face criminal charges, and confined to house arrest and 24-hour surveillance on his dime. In a townhouse in the Pacific Heights neighborhood — with security people he jokingly told associates were his “roommates” — he spent his mornings talking with researchers whom he funded personally on new applications for artificial intelligence. Afterward, he devoted hours to discussing legal strategy with his team.

Despite his persistent claims of innocence, even those close to Mr. Lynch had believed his odds of victory were slim. Autonomy’s chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was convicted in 2018 of similar fraud charges and spent five years in prison.

During Mr. Lynch’s house arrest, his brother and mother died. His wife, Angela Bacares, frequently flew over from England, and she became a constant presence in the San Francisco courtroom during the trial.

After he was finally acquitted, Mr. Lynch had his eye on the future. “I am looking forward to returning to the U.K. and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field,” he said.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Pallanza, Italy.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in Rome. More about Emma Bubola

Michael J. de la Merced has covered global business and finance news for The Times since 2006. More about Michael J. de la Merced

Body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch recovered from sunken superyacht as search enters final stages

PORTICELLO, Italy — The body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch was recovered from the wreck of a superyacht that sank off Sicily , a source familiar with the matter told CNBC on Thursday.

The source said rescuers were still searching for Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, the l ast p er son missing from the luxury boat , which went down in what authorities said was a freak storm early Monday.

A massive search effort was launched, and four bodies were recovered from the 180-foot Bayesian on Wednesday after an operation hampered by the depth to which the wreck had sunk and the debris that blocked divers’ path through its narrow passages.

Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s civil protection agency, confirmed to NBC News on Thursday morning that a fifth body had been recovered. And hours later, CNBC reported that the body of Lynch, regularly described in U.K. media as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” was among them.

The U.K.'s Royal Academy of Engineering said Thursday morning that it was “deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mike Lynch,” who is one of its fellows. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time,” the academy said in a statement on X .

The others missing were Lynch's associates, who had successfully defended him in a blockbuster U.S. fraud trial earlier this summer: Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International and the British insurance firm Hiscox, and his wife, Judy; and a well-known New York City defense attorney, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife, Neda.

The body of Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian Antiguan national who was the ship’s cook, was recovered shortly after the accident Monday. 

Fifteen of the 22 people onboard survived.

Waves gently crashed against the rocks of Porticello, a port near the Italian island’s main city, Palermo, with the sea calm as rescuers brought ashore green body bags Wednesday — a stark contrast to just three days ago, when officials believe the yacht was hit by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout.

The vessel was anchored about a half-mile offshore when it sank, leaving divers to search its hull on the seabed 164 feet underwater.

The dock has swarmed for days with journalists, photographers and curious onlookers taking photos with their smartphones as rescue teams traveled to and from the site of the wreck.

Claudio Lavanga reported from Porticello and Yuliya Talmazan from London.

Claudio Lavanga is Rome-based foreign correspondent for NBC News.

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.

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Milliardär feierte spektakuläre Prozess-Wende auf Yacht vor Italien – „Britischer Bill Gates“ weiter vermisst

Stand: 23.08.2024, 11:46 Uhr

Von: Martina Lippl

Der britische Tech-Unternehmer Mike Lynch galt zunächst als vermisst, mittlerweile wurde der 59-Jährige tot geborgen. Von seiner Tochter fehlt weiterhin jede Spur.

Update vom 23. August: Nach tagelanger Suche besteht nun Gewissheit: Beim Untergang einer Luxusjacht vor der italienischen Mittelmeerinsel Sizilien ist auch der britische Milliardär Mike Lynch ums Leben gekommen. Der Leichnam des 59-jährigen Unternehmers wurde von Spezialtauchern aus seinem Segelboot „Bayesian“, das in 50 Metern Tiefe auf Grund liegt, an die Oberfläche gebracht. Vermisst wird jetzt nur noch seine 18 Jahre alte Tochter. Nach ihr wurde auch am Nachmittag noch gesucht.

Der Skipper Michael Schlecht gibt IPPEN.MEDIA im Interview eine Einschätzung des Unglückshergangs . Demnach seien die Wetterbedingungen „sehr extrem“ gewesen. „Und vermutlich kamen viele geöffnete Luken und Türen hinzu“, fügt der Kapitän hinzu.

Ursprungsmeldung vom 20. August 2024: Palermo – Wie konnte die 56-Meter-Superyacht im Sturm vor der Küste Siziliens überhaupt sinken? Das ist eine der Fragen, die viele nach dem Unglück in Italien beschäftigt. Das Wrack der „Bayesian“ liegt in einer Tiefe von 49 Meter auf dem Meeresboden. Spezialtaucher suchen nach weiter nach den Vermissten. Unter ihnen sind der britische Tycoon Mike Lynch (59) und seine Tochter Hannah (18). Auch der Präsident von Morgan Stanley International Jonathan Bloomer mit seiner Frau und Lynchs Anwalt Chris Morvillo mit seiner Frau Nada gelten laut italienischen Medienberichten als verschollen.

Mike Lynch nach Yacht-Unglück vermisst: „Britischer Bill Gates“ hatte Ärger nach Milliarden-Deal

Der Milliardär Mike Lynch ist schon vor Jahren mit dem Verkauf seiner Firma „Autonomy“ an Hewlett Packard (HP) in die Schlagzeilen geraten. Lynch verkaufte 2011 das Software-Unternehmen für elf Milliarden US-Dollar. Medien feierten ihn als den „britischen Bill Gates“. Für die Amerikaner entpuppte sich der Deal jedoch als Mega-Debakel. Der Computer-Riese schrieb Milliarden ab. Lynch und einem Finanzmanager wurde vorgeworfen, die Umsatzzahlen vor dem Verkauf geschönt zu haben. Der 59-Jährige wurde schließlich in die USA ausgeliefert, ihm drohten bis zu 25 Jahren Gefängnis.

Mike Lynch feierte Freispruch angeblich mit Italien-Segeltörn auf der „Bayesian“

Erst vor wenigen Wochen dann die überraschende Wende: Lynch wurde im Betrugsprozess rund um den „Autonomy“-Deal freigesprochen. Der Freispruch folgte auf eine Niederlage im Zivilprozess in Großbritannien und eine damit verbundenen vier Milliarden Dollar Forderung, der Nachfolgefirmen des früheren Hewlett-Packard-Konzerns. Jahrelang behauptet Lynch, als Sündenbock für eine misslungene Übernahme verantwortlich gemacht worden zu sein. Jetzt galt der Brite als „rehabilitiert“.

Mit dem Segeltörn auf der Luxusyacht sollte das Ende des jahrelangen Rechtsstreits im Juni gefeiert werden, berichtet BBC . Der 59-Jährige war zuvor zu seiner Familie, seiner Ehefrau und seinen beiden Töchtern nach Großbritannien zurückgekehrt. Seine Tochter Hannah (18) wollte nach dem Sommer ein Studium in Oxford beginnen, heißt es.

Milliardärs-Yacht „Bayesian“ versinkt im Mittelmeer

• Sechs Menschen gelten als vermisst: Milliardär Mike Lynch (59), seine Tochter Hannah (18), der Morgan Stanley Boss Jonathan Bloomer, seine Frau Judy Bloomer und Lynchs Anwalt Chris Morvillo.
• An Bord der „Bayesian“ waren zum Zeitpunkt des Unglücks am Montagmorgen 22 Menschen – zehn Crew-Mitglieder und zwölf Passagiere.
• 15 Menschen – darunter Lynchs Ehefrau Angela (57) konnten gerettet werden. Charlotte Golunski und ihr Ehemann James, sowie ihre einjährige Tochter Sophie gehören zu den Überlebenden.

Yacht-Unglück vor Sizilien – Banken-Boss von Morgan Stanley unter den Vermissten

Auch der ver Vorsitzende von Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer, ist im Mittelmeer verschollen. Der 70-jährige Brite ist laut BBC auch Vorsitzender der Versicherungsgesellschaft Hiscox. „Wir sind zutiefst schockiert und traurig über diese Tragödie“, zitiert der britische Nachrichtensender einen Sprecher von Morgan Stanley. „Unsere Gedanken sind bei allen Betroffenen, insbesondere bei der Familie Bloomer, während wir alle auf weitere Nachrichten über diese schreckliche Situation warten.“

Lynchs Anwalt Chris Morvillo, war Anwalt der internationalen Top-Kanzlei Clifford Chance. Morvillo war auf „hochkaratige Korruptionsfälle“ spezialisiert und hatte Lynch in seinem jüngsten Prozess vertreten. BBC zufolge war Morvillo von 1999 bis 2005 als stellvertretender US-Staatsanwalt für den südlichen Bezirk von New York an den strafrechtlichen Ermittlungen im Zusammenhang mit den Terroranschlägen auf das World Trade Center im Jahr 2001 beteiligt.

Wer war an Bord der „Bayesian“?

Der gemeinsame Urlaub auf Sizilien sollte für Mike Lynch eine Art Neuanfang sein, wie es heißt. So waren offenbar neun Kollegen und deren Familienangehörige an Bord der „Bayesian“ geladen. Nun sind der Tech-Tycoon, seine Tochter und vier Freunde vermutlich tot.

Morgan Stanley Boss Jonathan Bloomer, Lynchs Anwalt Chris Morvillo mit seiner Frau Nada gehören zu den Vermissten, wie Giornalle di Sicilia berichtet. Auch Bloomers Ehefrau Judy soll sich laut BBC -Informationen unter den Vermissten befinden.

Ihre Leichen sind möglicherweise im Boot am Meeresboden eingeschlossen, heißt es. Die „Bayesian“ liegt laut Feuerwehr in 49 Metern Tiefe . Den Tauchern sei am Montagabend zwar der Zugang zur Kommandobrücke gelungen. Von dort konnten sie jedoch nicht weiter vordringen. Spezialisierte Höhlentaucher waren eigens dazu angefordert worden, berichtet die italienische Feuerwehr Vigili del Fuoco via X. Suchtrupps sind seit Dienstagmorgen wieder im Einsatz. (ml)

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Superyacht sinks latest: Search resumes for Mike Lynch's daughter - as investigators 'gather evidence for possible criminal probe'

Five bodies have been found and now identified in the search for those missing after a yacht sank off the Sicily coast, including that of tech tycoon Mike Lynch. Local investigators are gathering evidence for a potential criminal investigation into the sinking of the yacht.

Friday 23 August 2024 10:41, UK

• Superyacht sinking

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• Five bodies found in search of superyacht wreckage, taking number of confirmed deaths to six
• Search resumes for British tech tycoon's daughter
• Ashna Hurynag in Sicily: Investigators gather evidence for potential criminal probe
• Family of Jonathan and Judy Bloomer describe 'unimaginable grief'
• Explained: Inside the superyacht
• Live reporting by Samuel Osborne (now) and Brad Young  (earlier)

The search for British tycoon Mike Lynch's daughter Hannah has not been "easy or quick" a spokesperson for the Italian Coastguard has said.

Vincenzo Zagarola compared the sunken superyacht to an "18-storey building full of water".

"From the first moment it has not been easy or quick to inspect the boat," he told the PA news agency.

"Think of an 18-storey building full of water."

Prosecutors in the town of Termini Imerese, Sicily, near where the Bayesian superyacht went down, are scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow morning.

Earlier, we reported that investigators from the local public prosecutor's office are gathering evidence for a potential criminal investigation into the sinking of the yacht (see 7.29am post).

These pictures show rescue boats off the coast of Porticello, near where the luxury yacht sank, as rescue personnel resume search operations to find British tycoon Mike Lynch's daughter Hannah.

Search operations for the final person missing from the wreck of the superyacht continue, Italy's fire and rescue service has said.

It tweeted to say sea dives had resumed and added that "the long and delicate search operations for the last missing person continue".

The service shared pictures of rescue workers on boats preparing to dive.

The Italian coastguard hopes there will be progress today in the search for Hannah Lynch.

Asked if any developments were expected, spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola replied: "We trust."

Ms Lynch is the last tourist unaccounted for after six bodies were recovered since the sinking of the Bayesian on Monday.

A captain and maritime chartered surveyor has identified four potential issues that may have contributed to the yacht disaster.

Captain Ed Geary said retractable keels - a stabilising fin at the base of a boat - have "historic problems of failure".

"Whether the keel was up or down would have a serious impact on the stability of the vessel."

Second, he took aim at the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency rules.

"The MCA delegates the inspection and certification and survey of these commercial vessels - up to 12 passengers - to profit-motivated, surveying societies, certification societies.

"Unfortunately, the quality is not as high as it should be," he claimed, adding some of their personnel were "untrained, unqualified and inexperienced".

Captain Geary also took issue with comments made by Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group,

"The builder of boat initially blurted out that the boat was unsinkable, which is kind of hard to fathom considering the boat is sitting at 50m below the surface of water off the Italian coast."

But the captain agreed with Mr Costantino's claims the crew should have been alert.

Sky News has contacted the MCA for comment.

Investigators from the local public prosecutor's office are gathering evidence for a potential criminal investigation into the sinking of the yacht, says news correspondent Ashna Hurynag.

British investigators have said its too early to comment on their probe.

A "blame game" has already started, with the chief executive of the company that owns the firm that built the vessel "laying some of the blame at the feet of the crew and the captain on board", she adds.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, talked about human error and accused the crew of not being in a state of alert.

Meanwhile, the search continues for Hannah Lynch.

"Divers are starting to get ready, and those search and rescue teams have been on site for the past half an hour or so," says Hurynag.

"Tributes have been pouring in for the six people who are confirmed to have died in this tragic incident."

The search continues for 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian.

The body of her father, technology tycoon Mike Lynch, was recovered yesterday, while his wife Angela Bacares survived.

Divers paused their efforts at 8pm off the coast of Sicily last night and were expected to resume at 6.30am (5.30am UK time) this morning.

A decision on whether to raise the sunken yacht from the seabed is "not on the agenda", but will be in the future, said a spokesman from the Italian Coastguard, Vincenzo Zagarola.

The wreckage of the Bayesian is resting on the seabed at a depth of 164ft.

It had been moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank at about 5am local time on Monday.

Mr Zagarola said the Italian coastguard's working theory is still that the missing woman is inside the boat.

Welcome back to our live coverage of the yacht disaster, as the search continues for the last missing tourist.

Hannah Lynch, 18, the daughter of British tycoon Mike Lynch, is still unaccounted for, while her father has been confirmed dead.

He was among five bodies recovered and identified yesterday.

Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judith Bloomer, as well as lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also named as among the deceased.

Meanwhile, tributes have flooded in for the deceased, including from the families of the Bloomers and the Morvillos.

A senior oceanography lecturer told Sky News it's "unlikely" Ms Lynch was thrown from the Bayesian and more probable that she will be found somewhere inside the vessel.

An Italian fire service spokesman said emergency workers "would need a crystal ball" to know if and when another body will be discovered.

Meanwhile, an investigation is under way into the circumstances behind the sinking.

The chief executive of a firm which makes and sells yachts like the Bayesian said the sinking may have been due to a series of human mistakes and questioned why its crew were not in a "state of alert" when the storm hit.

We're pausing our coverage for tonight but here is a recap of what we know:

• The five bodies discovered in the wreckage of the sunken Bayesian have been identified;
• British tycoon Mike Lynch, Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were all named;
• Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah Lynch remains unaccounted for;
• A senior oceanography lecturer has told Sky News it's "unlikely" she was thrown from the Bayesian and more probable that she will be found somewhere inside the vessel;
• Tributes have flooded in for the deceased, including from the families of the Bloomers and the Morvillos;
• The chief executive of a firm which makes and sells yachts like the Bayesian believes the sinking may have been due to a series of human mistakes and questioned why its crew were not in a "state of alert" when a storm hit;
• An Italian fire service spokesman says emergency workers "would need a crystal ball" to know if and when another body will be discovered;
• Mr Lynch had reportedly considered selling the Bayesian earlier this year but changed his mind when acquitted in a major fraud trial in the US.

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