Mike Lynch’s superyacht raised above water in Italy

The late Mike Lynch. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.

Mike Lynch’s superyacht, Bayesian, has been raised above water in Italy. 

The yacht could be seen at around 7am local time in an upright position.

Salvage crews said that water is being pumped out of the Bayesian before it will be fully raised in a few hours.

A project insider told the PA news agency: “The vessel is on surface, but not clear of the sea as yet.

“Pumping out of water will continue, and it will be lunchtime – following a series of lifting and resting procedures – before she will finally be fully and finally out of the water.”

This comes as the 56-metre (184ft) Bayesian is set to be lifted to the surface near the fishing town of Porticello on Saturday or Sunday before being taken to nearby Termini Imerese — where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based.

Investigators in the UK and Italy say raising the vessel is crucial to fully understanding what happened.

Last week, salvage teams expected the boat to be raised later in June, but thanks to “accelerated progress”, the timeline was brought forward.

The yacht’s 72-metre (236ft) mast was cut off on Tuesday using a remote-controlled tool and rested on the seabed to be picked up later.

Over the next few days, workers will fit hoses and plugs into the fuel tank vents on the yacht’s right side, which had been lying flat on the seabed.

The yacht will then be slowly tilted fully upright, supported by strong steel straps attached to Hebo Lift 10 — one of Europe’s most powerful sea cranes.

Billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, were among seven people who died when the Bayesian sank off the coast of the Italian island on August 19.

About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to the fishing village of Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation, which began last month.

Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals.

Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigators said in an interim report that the Bayesian was knocked over by “extreme wind”.

The yacht had a vulnerability to winds, but the owner and crew would not have known, the report said.