Tech Tycoon’s Superyacht Sinks Off Sicily in Mystery: Investigation Underway
The luxury superyacht of American tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, with 10 aboard including sunk off Sicily on August 20, when a major investigation was launched to try and discover the cause. It is “Athena” that most urgently points to these questions: All who were aboard survived, but the circumstances of her sinking–the mysterious parting of rigging and stowage alone–raise more troubling questions than ever.
The luxury 100-meter “Athena”, said to be worth around €100 million, made a distress call reporting engine breakdown as it was sailing close to the Aeolian Islands, according to Italian officials. Within minutes, a rescue coordination center scrambled helicopters and boats to evacuate the crew and guests—which happened to include Lynch, who founded British software company Autonomy. Thanks to god all got save on the shore.
The boat, however was rather less lucky and came to grief in the Mediterranean. [The cause of the sinking is yet to be definitively established, with investigations buoyed on possible mechanical failures or failure brought about by adverse weather conditions. Italian maritime officials were handling the probe, visiting wreckage and talking to survivors for a clearer picture.
Lynch, whose high-profile tech investments got a boost as he thanked rescuers for their speed and noted the “very sad” loss of his vessel. The sinking of the Athena and those on board is yet another tragic example that even onboard luxurious maritime environments menaces are lurking — a reminder to conduct serious investigations if we want against future catastrophes. The question remains, heavily as investigators will need to piece together how and why this super technologically advanced superyacht suddenly took a nosedive into the big blue due to technical negligence or the wrath of nature is about to get answered.
By