A luxury yacht carrying foreign tourists, including Canadian nationals, sank off the coast of Sicily due to bad weather early Monday. One body was recovered, six people are still missing and 15 people have been rescued, authorities said.
The ship capsized at around 5am local time off the port of Porticello, where it was apparently anchored.
On board were a crew of 10 and 12 passengers, including British, American and Canadian nationals, the Italian coastguard said. Local media reported that a sudden violent storm, including tornadoes over water, known as waterspouts, had hit the area overnight, but that skies were clear and the sea calm on Monday morning.
THE Bayesian The 56-metre British-flagged ship was known for its unusually unique 75-metre mast, one of the world’s tallest made of aluminium. Online sites are offering it for rent for up to nearly $300,000 a week. Eight of those rescued and brought ashore at Porticello, near Palermo, were hospitalised. One body was found near the wreckage, but six others are missing, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for the Italian fire service.
Rescue teams located the ship at a depth of 50 metres off Porticello and experienced divers from the deep-sea police were trying to access the hull, Cari said. The operations, visible from the shore, involved helicopters and rescue boats from the coastguard, firefighters and civil protection.
The seven people who were not rescued included a crew member and six passengers, the coast guard said.
The yacht, built in 2008 by Italian company Perini Navi, can accommodate 12 guests in four double cabins, one triple and the master suite, as well as crew accommodations, according to Charter World and Yacht Charters.
The ship, which was previously called the “Salute” when it was flying the Dutch flag, featured a clean, minimalist interior of light wood with Japanese accents designed by French designer Rémi Tessier, according to online descriptions and photos.