Palermo, 27 August (Adnkronos) – The port hatch of the sunken vessel was “100 percent open” on the night of the storm. The Bayesian vessel “was sound and seaworthy by design and, to the best of my knowledge, well maintained as such. However, a list of more than about 45 degrees during normal operating conditions could cause flooding and consequent losses if the flooding could not be controlled”. These are the words of the former commander of the Bayesian Stephen Edwards, who in a long letter written on Likedin speaks of the vessel he commanded for five years. “Bombarded by inquiries from journalists around the world about the sinking of the Bayesian a week ago, I finally decided to take some notes on the subject. I have no desire to contribute to the wild speculation and claims we have seen so far, or suggest in any way what actually happened. Only those on board at the time will know, but I can shed some light on the characteristics of the ship and some of the limitations that may have been involved in this disaster,” Edwards says.
He then lists a series of facts about the sailing ship. Starting with the mainmast, which is 75 meters high. “Of course, Perini engineers took the height of the Bayesian mast into account in the overall design of the boat,” he explains. “To this end, she was fitted with 30 tons more lead ballast in the keel box than her 56-meter sister ships. This is to counteract the extra mass, higher center of gravity and higher center of effort (due to the sailing forces) created by the sloop’s rig.”
“The main lead ballast was contained in a more or less rectangular box (keel box) fixed under the canoe-shaped hull,” he explains. “I don’t remember the precise mass of this ballast, but it was probably around 200T or so. In the centre of this box is the movable keel, which weighed around 60 tonnes and extended nearly 6 metres below the keel box when lowered. This arrangement meant that most of the ship’s righting moment came from the main ballast… the movable keel acting more like a centreboard to reduce sideways slip under sail (leeway).”
He adds that “all yachts like Bayesian are delivered with a ‘Stability Information Book’. This document is approved by the flag state of the vessel and defines the loading and operating limits. It also contains information on the righting characteristics. The operating limitations defined in the stability book must also be respected at all times, under the responsibility of the captain.” “Bayesian had only one shell door in the hull, on the port side aft. As it was very close to the waterline, it was rarely used (remembering the 30T extra ballast mentioned earlier… this meant the waterline was 100mm higher than on other 56m Perinis, so much closer to the bottom of the shell opening, meaning it could only be opened in flat calm conditions… it was 100% not open at night).” He adds: “There are no opening windows or portholes, all made of laminated marine glass glued to the hull and superstructure.”
“Other deck hatches/superstructure openings that violate the integrity of the watertight seal on the Bayesian are located on or near the centerline of the vessel. For these to take in water when opened, the vessel would have to be heeled over well beyond the previously mentioned flooding angle, and therefore already flooded via vents/vents.”
“”Only one opening was located away from the centreline and may have been vulnerable to flooding at lower heel angles… this is the access from the deck to the lazaretto area aft. However, as it is on the port (left) side of the poop deck, it is unlikely to be an initial factor in this scenario as we know the Bayesian was shot down to starboard and, consequently, this hatch, even if open as the crew were on deck etc, would have been one of the later parts to submerge.”
And finally he sums up: “The Bayesian vessel was sound and seaworthy by design and, to the best of my knowledge, well maintained as such. However, a list of more than about 45 degrees during normal operating conditions could lead to flooding and subsequent losses if the flooding could not be controlled.” “The weather conditions that could have created these extreme circumstances can indeed occur with very little warning and are so localized that it is difficult to prepare, leaving the crew with very little time to react,” he says.
“Investigators will have to determine why the vessel was taken outside its operational limits, which I am sure they will do,” he concluded.
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