Shipwreck of the Bayesian sailing ship: the commander investigated for manslaughter.
The sinking of the sailing vessel Bayesian, which occurred on August 19 near Porticello, Palermo, has led to the opening of an investigation against the captain James Cutfield and, potentially, also the sailor on watch. The alleged crimes are shipwreck and manslaughter. Initial investigations suggest that the sinking may have been caused by human error: one of the side doors of the sailing vessel was left open, allowing water to enter and rapidly submerge the vessel.
During the interrogation, Cutfield tried to explain how a sailing vessel of that type, designed to withstand adverse weather conditions, could have sunk. Franco Rossi, a retired engineer who had worked on the Bayesian design, confirmed that the open side door may have been the critical factor. According to Rossi, in normal conditions, the sailing ship should have resisted, but with the door open, the water could have invaded the engine room, making the situation irreversible.
The lack of a specific storm weather warning further complicated the situation. Although Meteomar had not reported extreme conditions, local fishermen had sensed that a storm was coming, but not enough measures were taken on board the Bayesian. The ship's designer, Franco Romani, explained that a proper closing of all the hatches and a timely reaction to the changing weather conditions could have avoided the disaster.
In summary, a series of human errors, from the incorrect management of the openings to the failure to alert passengers, seems to have been the main cause of the tragic sinking of the sailing ship.
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