Billionaire is sued for millions by the manufacturer

At the end of August, it sank under unclear circumstances off the Palermo superyacht of tech mogul Mike Lynch. Now the boat manufacturer is making serious allegations against the crew.

Palermo – A dramatic accident occurred off the Sicilian coast at the end of August: The Bayesian superyacht owned by British billionaire and tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch sank in unexpectedly rough weather conditions. Seven people, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, lost their lives.

The Italian Sea Group (TISG), the manufacturer of the yacht, is now planning to sue the crew and Lynch's widow for damages amounting to over 200 million euros. The reason: TISG has suffered considerable damage to its image as a result of the sinking of the yacht, which is said to have already resulted in financial losses.

The manufacturer makes serious allegations against the yacht crew and demands 200 million euros in damages

According to TISG, several potential business partners terminated their cooperation after the accident. These included a well-known European fashion company and an investment fund.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, however, blames the crew for the accident. According to him, the doors and hatches of the yacht were not properly closed, which allowed large amounts of water to enter. He also expressed doubts about the crew's qualifications and rejected allegations of technical defects on the ship. The Bayesian was considered unsinkable, which is why structural problems can be ruled out according to Costantino, as the Italian newspaper The National reported.

What exactly caused the yacht to sink remains unclear. The Bayesian is still lying on the seabed off Palermo and investigations are ongoing.

Lynch’s family reacts angrily to lawsuit: “Unbelievable impudence”

Mike Lynch's relatives are appalled by the actions of the TISG. A close friend of the family told the British newspaper The times: “It is unbelievable that the Italian Sea Group is now trying to shift the blame onto the victims.” Giovanni Costantino should be ashamed. Even before all the bodies had been recovered, he went to the press to present his version of the story. And now he dares to sue the widow as well.” (simply)