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10 facts about Lürssen's 156m superyacht Dilbar

Related articles, superyacht directory.

Launched by German shipyard Lürssen in 2016, Dilbar is a record-breaking superyacht. Her builder has even claimed that she “is one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology.” This standout superyacht was delivered to her owner Uzbekistani billionaire Alisher Usmanov as a replacement for Usmanov’s previous yacht of the same name, which has since been renamed Al Raya . Information about the super-secretive yacht is scarce but the figures that have been revealed are impressive. Read on to discover the 10 most incredible facts about Dilbar …

1. Dilbar is the fourth longest yacht in the world

At 156 metres, the Espen-Øino designed Dilbar is one of the longest superyachts in the world. She was a step up from Usmanov’s previous Dilbar yacht, now renamed Al Raya , which measured only 110 metres.

2. She can accommodate almost 100 crew members

Dilbar is normally run by a crew of 80 that help maintain the superyacht and wait on her guests. When necessary, this crew capacity can be increased to a maximum of 96 crew members, meaning Dilbar can carry as many as 120 people at full capacity.

3. The largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage

While the title of largest yacht in the world by length goes to the 180.61 metre Azzam , the 156 metre Dilbar has the greatest interior volume of any yacht ever delivered, boasting an impressive gross tonnage of 15,917. This translates into 3,800 square metres of living space for 24 guests styled by Winch Design with rare and exclusive luxury materials and extended by fold-out balconies.

4. Dilbar has the largest swimming pool ever installed on a superyacht

Measuring 25 metres long, the swimming pool on board Dilbar can hold an impressive amount of water – 180 cubic metres of water in fact. The swimming pool on Dilbar is reportedly the largest pool to ever be installed on board a superyacht.

5. There is a garden on board

For guests missing the shore, Dilbar is equipped with an expansive garden complete with a specially developed variety of grass that tolerates salt air. The designer of the garden, German architect and founder of Yacht-Green Axel Massmann, disclosed that plants from “Mediterranean areas” were chosen because “ Dilbar tends to be between the South of France, northern Spain and sometimes Cyprus.” By choosing plants grown within EU waters, Dilbar was also spared the headache of customs regulations that forbid the import of foreign plants.

6. The yacht is powered by a 30,000KW electric diesel power plant

Opting for an electric-diesel hybrid power source helps reduce Dilbar’s emissions while still providing a top speed of 22.5 knots. Her builder Lürssen claims that the 30,000 KW power plant on which Dilbar runs is the most powerful to ever be fitted on a superyacht.

7. Over 1,100km of cables were installed on board

Dilbar was a technical feat. A total of 1,100 kilometres of cabling (almost the same length as the total land borders of the country of Bhutan) was stretched throughout the interior to power all of the amenities and facilities on board.

8. There are two helipads

Helipads are a key asset to helping owners and guests make smooth and swift journeys from ship to shore. Dilbar however is equipped with not one but two helipads where the H175 helicopter can land to drop off or pick up. The first is located forward at the bow of the yacht, while the second is situated aft on the top deck flybridge.

9. Dilbar was built in just 52 months

From the time of signing the contract to delivering the superyacht to her owner, Lürssen and the designers working on the project managed to construct and complete Dilbar in just over four years.

10. The interiors feature over 1,000 sofa cushions

The amount of living space on board meant that Winch Design had to decorate the interiors with plentiful soft furnishings. Dilbar has been outfitted with over 1,000 custom-made sofa cushions on board, with each and every one uniquely designed to fit the interior scheme.

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Ukraine invasion — explained

The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. The current conflict is more than one country fighting to take over another; it is — in the words of one U.S. official — a shift in "the world order." Here are some helpful stories to make sense of it all.

Germany seizes the world's largest yacht (at least according to volume)

Rachel Treisman

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017. Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The luxury superyacht Dilbar sails off the coast of Monaco in 2017.

German authorities have seized the world's largest yacht by volume after determining that a Russian oligarch had transferred its ownership to his sister — who is also facing Western sanctions.

Dilbar, the yacht in question, measures some 511 feet and 15,917 tons, which shipbuilder Lurssen says makes it the largest motor yacht in the world by gross tonnage. It has two helipads and one of the biggest indoor pools ever installed on a yacht, according to the U.S. Treasury Department , which puts its estimated worth between $600 and $735 million.

Why so many Russian billionaires are called oligarchs

The superyacht is named after the mother of its original owner: Alisher Usmanov, one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires and a known close associate of the Russian president. Usmanov was sanctioned by the U.S., United Kingdom., European Union and Switzerland in March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Germany's federal police tweeted Wednesday that it found, "through extensive investigations despite offshore concealment," that the yacht currently belongs to Usmanov's sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova. Authorities impounded the yacht, which remains at the port of Hamburg , after confirming with Brussels that its owner is under sanctions.

A Russian billionaire's superyacht has been impounded in Hamburg, Germany. Harsh sanctions in response to the invasion of #Ukraine brought the estimated $600-750 million yacht Dilbar out of 'offshore concealment', and into the hands of authorities. pic.twitter.com/GYkH6SmQk2 — German Embassy (@GermanyinUSA) April 14, 2022

Ismailova was sanctioned by the U.K. on Wednesday and the EU last week. Both entities said Usmanov had indirectly transferred assets to his sister, including leaving her as Dilbar's only beneficial owner.

"The owner of the yacht 'Dilbar' is Navis Marine Ltd. (Cayman Islands), whose shareholder is Almenor Holdings Ltd. (Cyprus). All shares in that holding company are held by PomerolCapital SA (Switzerland) in trust for the benefit of 'The Sisters Trust,' " EU officials explained, adding that Usmanov has not been a shareholder of that trust company since 2017.

National Security

A russian oligarch's $90 million yacht is seized as part of u.s. sanctions.

Ukrainian sailors tried to block a Russian oligarch's yacht from docking in Turkey

Ismailova has also been linked to luxury real estate in Italy and Latvia associated with Usmanov, the EU said, and therefore has "actively supported materially or financially Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine."

Dilbar made headlines in early March , when Hamburg officials denied conflicting reports that they had seized the superyacht and said any such move would have to come from higher federal customs authorities.

According to Boat International, Dilbar is also the fourth-longest yacht in the world. It can accommodate up to 96 crew members as well as 24 guests in a large living space, which includes fold-out balconies, an onboard garden (with "a specifically developed variety of grass that tolerates salt air") and more than 1,000 custom-made sofa cushions.

This story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog .

• Russia sanctions

UPDATE: Fate Of Russian Billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s Mega-Yacht In Germany Uncertain

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Alisher Usmanov's Dilbar yacht.

CORRECTION (March 3): According to the Ministry for Economy and Innovation in the German state of Hamburg, the country’s authorities have not seized the Dilbar, a 512-foot yacht owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. As Forbes reported on Wednesday, work on the ship has been halted at the Hamburg shipyard where it has been stationed for refitting work since October.

Three sources had told Forbes it had been seized, but a representative for Usmanov cited the statement from the ministry in Hamburg to confirm that it had not. In its statement, the ministry elaborated that the German federal customs agency is the “responsible enforcement authority” and would have to issue an export waiver for the yacht to leave, and that “no yacht leaves port that is not allowed to do so.”

The yacht is registered in the Cayman Islands and owned through Klaret Continental Leasing Limited, a company based in Malta, according to public data from vessel tracking service VesselFinder. A spokesperson for the Malta Business Registry told Forbes that Klaret Continental Leasing Limited was a branch of a Cyprus-based company which closed in December 2018. The Cyprus company, also named Klaret Continental Leasing Limited, was dissolved in September 2019, according to corporate records in Cyprus. A spokesperson for Usmanov told the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project , which Forbes is collaborating with on assets linked to Russian oligarchs, that the yacht had “long ago been transferred into an irrevocable trust” and that Usmanov had “donated” the beneficial rights to members of his family. That makes it difficult to tie the yacht directly to Usmanov for the purpose of sanctions.

In its statement, the ministry in Hamburg added that restrictions can be imposed on a yacht owned by a sanctioned Russian individual only “if the ownership situation is clearly clarified and all these possessions are also sanctioned.” The ministry confirmed to Forbes that the yacht is still in the dock at the Hamburg shipyards of Blohm+Voss.

Forbes contacted the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Federal Customs Service but has not received an immediate response.

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov was sanctioned by the European Union on Monday. Two days later, Forbes has learned from three sources in the yacht industry that work has been halted on one of his prized possessions—the 512-foot yacht Dilbar, valued at nearly $600 million—in the northern city of Hamburg, where it had been stationed for refitting at the shipyards of Blohm+Voss since October.

The ship has been in the Hamburg shipyards of German shipbuilding firm Blohm+Voss since late October for a refitting job. Sources who spoke to Forbes said that the German government froze the asset and that, likely as a result, Blohm+Voss employees who had been working on the yacht didn’t show up to work on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Lürssen, the German shipbuilder which owns Blohm+Voss, declined to comment on Thursday. “All orders and projects of the Lürssen Group and its subsidiaries are treated in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations,” the spokesperson said. Representatives for Usmanov didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Usmanov purchased Dilbar in 2016 for a reported $600 million from Lürssen, which custom-built it for him over 52 months. The firm calls it "one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology." At 15,917 tons, it's the world's largest motor yacht by gross tonnage, and is typically manned by a crew of 96 people. Dilbar boasts the largest swimming pool ever installed on a yacht as well as two helicopter pads, a sauna, a beauty salon, and a gym. Its plush interiors have more than 1,000 sofa cushions and it can host up to 24 people in 12 suites.

The yacht is part of Usmanov’s estimated multibillion dollar fortune, which spans stakes in iron ore and steel giant Metalloinvest and consumer electronics firm Xiaomi, as well as smaller holdings in telecom, mining and media. One of the earliest investors in Facebook along with fellow billionaire Yuri Milner , Usmanov also owns extensive real estate assets in the West, ranging from two estates in the UK—Beechwood House in London and Sutton Place in Surrey, valued at a combined $280 million—to luxury homes in Munich, Germany; Lausanne, Switzerland; Monaco; and Sardinia.

Usmanov sold his 30% stake in English soccer team Arsenal F.C. in 2018 for nearly $700 million in cash, but until this week had ties to soccer through his USM Holdings and MegaFon sponsorships of Everton F.C. The Premier League team said on Wednesday that it was suspending the arrangements in light of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Usmanov isn’t the only Russian billionaire with a mega-yacht: Forbes and yacht valuation experts VesselsValue tracked down 32 of them.

On Tuesday, Usmanov commented on the EU sanctions imposed on him in a statement to the International Fencing Federation where he also announced he was stepping down as the organization’s president. “I believe that such decision is unfair, and the reasons employed to justify the sanctions are a set of false and defamatory allegations damaging my honor, dignity, and business reputation," he wrote. "I will use all legal means to protect my honor and reputation."

Updated on March 30 with more information on Klaret Continental Leasing Ltd.

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DILBAR Yacht – Glamorous $800M Superyacht

At 156 meters (512 ft), DILBAR yacht is the fifth-longest yacht in the world.

If measured by tonnage, she actually ranks in first place as the largest yacht in the world by interior volume. DILBAR was built by Luerssen in Germany in 2016.

DILBAR yacht interior

The interior of the DILBAR yacht was designed by Andrew Winch’s studio based in London. Twelve luxury suites can accommodate 24 guests onboard the yacht.

An impressive 96-member crew finds space below deck and tends to every need the guests might have.

The crew can move through the vessel on separate crew passageways to ensure maximum privacy and a luxurious experience.

The superyacht has a gym, sauna, spa, elevator system, beauty salon, and sauna, all for the comfort and entertainment of the guests.

She also has the largest indoor pool ever installed on a yacht, measuring a total length of 25 meters.

The interior of DILBAR features a classical yacht design with beautiful wood elements and opulent furnishings.

Blue and gold accents take the interior design of the impressive superyacht to the next level and have earned her several design awards in the past.

Specifications

The DILBAR yacht has a total length of 156 meters (512 ft), a beam of 25.7 meters (84.4 ft), and a draft of 6 meters (19.8 ft).

She was built in 2016 by the Luerssen shipyard in Lemwerder, Germany and the project took more than four years to complete.

Her tonnage lies at 15,917, but she can still reach top speeds of 23 knots despite her weight. Her average cruising speed lies at 18 knots, and she is powered by twin diesel engines.

DILBAR is a multi-award-winning yacht with an array of unusual features. Her exterior was designed by the Monaco-based studio of Espen Oeino, which has worked on some of the world’s largest yachts.

The exterior of DILBAR is white with bronze and ivory accents to match Usmanov’s other luxury vessels. The yacht has two helipads that can hold Usmanov’s H175 helicopter.

Several sunbathing decks with a great selection of seating areas make this yacht the perfect place to relax and enjoy the stunning sea views.

DILBAR yacht for an estimated sales price of US $800 million, although this number could be even higher.

The yacht generates a further US $50 to 80 million in annual running costs.

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News | World

Massive superyacht ‘owned by sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov’ is seized in Hamburg

German authorities said they have seized a massive superyacht in Hamburg after determining that it belongs to the sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov .

The Federal Criminal Police Office said that, after “extensive investigations” and despite “offshore concealment”, it had been able to determine that the owner is Gulbakhor Ismailova, Mr Usmanov’s sister.

Superyacht Dilbar was launched in 2016 at a reported cost of more than $648 million (£493 million).

The yacht features a 25m swimming pool, two helipads, and an on-ship garden and is valued between $600m (£456m) to $750m (£570m), according to the US treasury.

Germany police said authorities worked in Brussels to ensure that European Union sanctions applied to the owner.

It says the yacht can no longer be sold, rented or loaded.

The United States and the EU last month announced economic sanctions against Mr Usmanov, a metals magnate, over his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine.

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German authorities seize $600m yacht of Putin-linked billionaire Alisher Usmanov

Everton fc has also cut ties with billionaire, article bookmarked.

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German authorities have seized a massive yacht belonging to billionaire Alisher Usmanov at a shipyard in Hungary, part of the European Union’s effort to crack down on associates of Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The craft, a 512-foot boat called the Dilbar , is worth a reported $600m, according to Forbes , which reported the seizure.

The yacht , one of the largest ever built, features a 25-metre swimming pool, two helipads, an on-ship garden, and requires a crew of 80 people to keep it running.

The billionaire once sent a video gloating that, “I live in happiness,” to jailed Russian anti-corruption crusader Alexei Navalny, seemingly recorded from onboard.

Earlier this week, the EU announced it was freezing Mr Usmanov’s assets, calling him a  “pro-Kremlin oligarch with particularly close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin,” a man who is “considered to be one of Russia’s businessmen-officials, who were entrusted with servicing financial flows, but their positions depend on the will of the president.”

Premier League team Everton FC has also dropped sponsorship deals with the oligarch, who previously owned part of Arsenal .

Companies belonging to Mr Usamanov, a close associate of Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, sponsored Everton’s training ground and various kits for the men’s and women’s teams. They also retained the £30m naming rights for Everton’s proposed new stadium.

“Everyone at Everton remains shocked and saddened by the appalling events unfolding in Ukraine. This tragic situation must end as soon as possible, and any further loss of life must be avoided,” the club said in a statement, adding that it offers its “full support” to Vitalii Mykolenko, a Ukrainian national who plays left-back.

Mr Usmanov has decried the financial penalties against him.

“I believe such a decision is unfair and the reasons employed to justify the sanctions are a set of false and defamatory allegations damaging my honour, dignity and business reputation,” Mr Usmanov said earlier this week in a statement. “I will use all legal means to protect my honour and reputation.”

Ms Usmanov, known by the nickname “ the hard man of Russia ,” is one of the richest men in Russia and the world, worth an estimated $14.2bn.

He made his first fortune selling plastic bags, a highly sought after commodity towards the end of the Soviet Union, and has since acquired a major stake in the Metalloinvest minerals group, as well as made investments in Facebook, consumer electronics company Xiaomi, and VK, a Russian social media network.

The luxuries enjoyed by Russian oligarchs have become a key target for Western authorities as they seek to inflict financial pain on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

During his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday in Washington, US president Joe Biden warned he was coming after the yachts and high-end properties of Kremlin-linked businessmen.

“The US Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs,” Mr Biden said. “We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts your luxury apartments your private jets. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains.”

According to analysis of maritime data, yachts linked to Vladimir Putin and Russian oligarchs who associate with him have been sailing out of reach of US authorities in the days surrounding the Ukraine invasion.

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Germany seizes $594 million 512-foot super yacht that Russia’s sixth-richest man named after his mother

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s superyacht, the world’s largest by volume, was seized by German authorities in Hamburg, according to Forbes.

The German government has frozen the Dilbar, Usmanov’s 512-foot yacht, the publication said, citing three unidentified industry sources. Built in 2016 and named after his mother, the boat is estimated to be worth $594 million, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The European Union adopted  sanctions  on six of Russia’s wealthiest individuals on Monday, including Usmanov, who called the decision “unfair” and “defamatory.” The Dilbar had been undergoing refitting in the northern German city.

Superyachts and other opulent displays of wealth among Russia’s elite have drawn intense scrutiny since the country’s invasion of Ukraine, even making it into U.S. President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

“We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets,” Biden  said  during Tuesday’s address.

Five other individuals were named in the latest EU sanctions: Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, Alexey Mordashov, Gennady Timchenko and Alexander Ponomarenko. Mordashov owns two superyachts: the Nord, which is in the Seychelles, and Lady M, anchored in Imperia, Italy. 

Some Russian tycoons also still have superyachts docked in Europe. Roman Abramovich’s Solaris is in Barcelona; Iskandar Makhmudov’s Predator is in Genoa, Italy; and Vagit Alekperov’s Galactic Super Nova is in Montenegro, among others, according to data tracked by Bloomberg.

Usmanov, 68, owns a major stake in USM, a Russian investment group with holdings in Metalloinvest, one of the world’s largest iron ore producers, and telecommunications company MegaFon. He’s the sixth-richest Russian with a fortune of $19.5 billion, according to Bloomberg’s wealth index, though that figure includes the Dilbar. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also been sanctioned by U.S., EU and U.K. authorities. He has been linked by news organizations including Business Insider to the superyacht Graceful. 

That boat left Hamburg Feb. 7, about two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine. It’s now in Kaliningrad, Russia. 

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La Germania sequestra il mega-yacht del miliardario russo Alisher Usmanov

Giacomo Tognini

Il miliardario russo Alisher Usmanov è stato sanzionato lunedì dall’Unione europea. Due giorni dopo, Forbes ha appreso da tre fonti nel settore degli yacht che lo yacht Dilbar di 512 piedi, del valore di quasi 600 milioni di dollari , è stato sequestrato dalle autorità tedesche nella città settentrionale di Amburgo.

Lo yatch di Usmanov sequestrato dal governo tedesco

La nave è stata nei cantieri navali di Amburgo della ditta tedesca di costruzioni navali Blohm+Voss dalla fine di ottobre per un lavoro di refitting. Fonti che hanno parlato con Forbes hanno affermato che il governo tedesco ha congelato l’asset. Di conseguenza, i dipendenti Blohm+Voss che avevano lavorato sullo yacht non si sono presentati al lavoro mercoledì. I rappresentanti di Blohm+Voss e Usmanov non hanno risposto a una richiesta di commento.

LEGGI ANCHE: “La lettera contro la guerra del miliardario russo che ha fondato Revolut con l’amico ucraino”

Usmanov ha acquistato Dilbar nel 2016 per 600 milioni di costruttore dal navale tedesco Lürssen, che lo ha costruito su misura per lui in 52 mesi. L’azienda lo definisce “uno degli yacht più complessi e impegnativi mai costruiti, sia in termini di dimensioni che di tecnologia”. Con 15.917 tonnellate più, è lo yacht a motore grande del mondo per stazza lorda. È composto da un equipaggio di 96 persone. Dilbar vanta la più grande piscina mai installata su uno yacht , oltre a due elicotteri, una sauna, un salone di bellezza e una palestra. I suoi interni lussuosi hanno più di 1.000 cuscini per divani e può ospitare fino a 24 persone in 12 suite.

La fortuna multimiliardaria di Usmanov

Lo yacht fa parte della fortuna multimiliardaria stimata di Usmanov.  Comprende partecipazioni nel gigante del minerale di ferro e dell’acciaio Metalloinvest e nella società di elettronica di consumo Xiaomi, oltre a partecipazioni minori nel settore delle telecomunicazioni, minerario e dei media. Usmanov, uno dei primi investitori in Facebook insieme al collega miliardario Yuri Milner , possiede anche vasti beni immobiliari in Occidente. Come le due proprietà nel Regno Unito – Beechwood House a Londra e Sutton Place nel Surrey, per un valore complessivo di $ 280 milioni. O comele case di lusso a Monaco di Baviera, in Germania, Losanna, Monaco e Sardegna.

LEGGI ANCHE: “Chi sono i 20 miliardari più ricchi della Russia”

La proprietà dell’Arsenal venduta nel 2018

Usmanov ha venduto la sua quota del 30% nella squadra di calcio inglese dell’Arsenal F.C. nel 2018 per quasi $ 700 milioni in contanti. Ma fino a questa settimana aveva legami con il calcio attraverso le sue Usm Holdings e le sponsorizzazioni MegaFon dell’Everton FC. La squadra della Premier League ha dichiarato mercoledì di aver sospeso gli accordi  dopo l’attacco della Russia all’Ucraina. Usmanov non è l’unico miliardario russo con un megayacht : Forbes e gli esperti di valutazione degli yacht VesselsValue ne hanno rintracciati 32 .

LEGGI ANCHE: “Chi sono gli oligarchi russi che stanno chiedendo la fine della guerra in Ucraina”

Martedì, Usmanov ha commentato le sanzioni dell’Ue impostogli in una dichiarazione alla Federazione internazionale di scherma, dove si sarebbe anche dimesso dalla carica di presidente dell’organizzazione.”Credo che tale decisione sia ingiusta e le ragioni impiegate per giustificare le sanzioni sono una serie di accuse false e diffamatorie che danneggiano il mio onore, la dignità e la reputazione aziendale”, ha scritto. “Utilizzerò tutti i mezzi legali per proteggere il mio onore e reputazione”.

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Leggi anche

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Lo yacht, lo stipendio di Capello, le donazioni: chi è Usmanov, magnate russo e «cittadino sardo»

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È uno degli oligarchi vicini a Putin colpiti dalle sanzioni dell’Ue. Per la sua attività di mecenate in Italia ha ricevuto un’onorificenza dal Quirinale

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Magnate vicino a Vladimir Putin , destinatario insieme ad altri oligarchi legati al leader del Cremlino di sanzioni dell’Unione europea in risposta all’invasione russa dell’Ucraina, Alisher Usmanov , 68 anni, origine uzbeke, ha un enorme patrimonio - 19,3 miliardi di dollari secondo Bloomberg Billionaires Index, 14,3 miliardi di dollari per Forbes - e una passione: l’Italia. Dove utilizza l’enorme ricchezza che gli deriva principalmente dalla partecipazione al colosso siderurgico MetalloInvest per la sua attività alternativa: quella di mecenate, benefattore e filantropo. A partire dalla Sardegna, regione dove è proprietario di splendide residenze (tra cui Villa Romazzino, appartenuta ad Antonio Merloni) e che ha sostenuto con una donazione di mezzo milione di euro: «Il mio umile contributo», scrisse nella lettera al presidente Christian Solinas , per combattere il coronavirus.

Nel 2018 Usmanov - a lungo considerato l’uomo più ricco della Russia e un esordio negli affari da produttore di buste di plastica - ha ricevuto la cittadinanza onoraria di Arzachena , centro della Gallura (parte nord-orientale dell'Isola) attorno al quale è nata la Costa Smeralda. Un’onorificenza che il comune non ha intenzione di revocare nonostante le misure punitive adottate dall’Ue: «Auspichiamo che questa misura sia uno stimolo ulteriore e immediato alla ricerca del dialogo e della pace» ha detto il sindaco Roberto Ragnedda (protagonista in passato di una polemica con Flavio Briatore, patron del “Billionaire” di Porto Cervo, il quale aveva detto che senza la Costa Smeralda «Arzachena la conoscono solo il sindaco e due pecore»).

«Le motivazioni alla base della nostra scelta fanno esplicito riferimento all'impegno di Alisher Usmanov nei confronti della comunità arzachenese della quale, dal 1994 ad oggi, entra a far parte per lunghi periodi estivi e autunnali con la famiglia e numerosi collaboratori - spiegava il sindaco in occasione della cerimonia -. Nelle sue proprietà situate nel territorio comunale ospita regolarmente Capi di Stato, mecenati, uomini d’affari e personalità che rivestono ruoli fondamentali nel campo dell'economia, della cultura e della politica a livello mondiale, portando Arzachena e le sue bellezze naturalistiche in primo piano sui media internazionali grazie al riscontro generato da ogni iniziativa o evento da lui organizzati. L’impatto economico diretto per il territorio e di promozione dell’immagine derivanti dalla sua presenza nel nostro paese meritano un concreto riconoscimento».

La festa con Sting, lo yacht (sequestrato) e il jet privato

Metterlo al bando significa non vederlo più sull’isola, dove nel tempo ha organizzato eventi come la festa di compleanno della sorella di Putin con tanto di concerto di Sting (per il cachet dell’ex leader dei Police si parlò di mezzo milione di euro). Era il 2012 e tra gli ospiti (un centinaio) c’era anche Silvio Berlusconi , in vacanza a Villa Certosa. Nell’hangar dell’areoporto di Olbia spuntava la coda di un Airbus A340: è il jet privato di Usmanov, chiamato Bourkhan , come il padre, troppo grande per essere contenuto nello spazi che furono di Meridiana.

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Sulle coste sarde erano abituati ad avvistare anche Dilbar , il superyacht (156 metri) al quale Usmanov ha dato il nome della madre: nel 2017 vinse il premio World Superyachts Awards, categoria a motore. È considerato il quarto yacht più grande del mondo: può ospitare 40 persone in 20 cabine e 80 membri dell’equipaggio, ha una piscina coperta con una capacità di 180 m3 e a bordo c’è un elicottero Airbus H175. Costo stimato: 600 milioni di euro.

Un mecenate a Roma

In Italia Usmanov - che con la sua fondazione Art, Science and Sport dichiara di aver donato dal 2006 2,6 miliardi di dollari per attività di assistenza sanitaria ed educazione - non ha destinato le sue risorse solo alla Sardegna. Nel 2017 la sala degli Orazi e Curiazi dei Musei Capitolini (dove nel 1957 furono firmati i Trattati di Roma, istitutivi della Comunità economica europea, e nel 2004 la Costituzione europea) è stata restaurata con una donazione di 300mila euro del magnate russo-uzbeko sanzionato ora dall’Ue. «È grazie anche ai mecenati come Usmanov che possiamo ricominciare a fruire di questi spazi. Il mecenatismo è qualcosa che fa bene a chi lo fa e ai cittadini che ne beneficiano» disse l’allora sindaca di Roma Virginia Raggi. Una donazione di 200mila euro servì invece per finanziare l’intervento di restauro della Fontana dei Dioscuri in piazza del Quirinale, collocata di fronte all’omonimo palazzo, sede della Presidenza della Repubblica.

Il rapporto di Usmanov con la Capitale comincia però sotto la gestione di Ignazio Marino. Fu il sindaco-marziano a dare l’annuncio dei contributi in arrivo dal magnate vicino a Putin durante la presentazione degli Internazionali di scherma nella capitale ( Usmanov , ex schermidore, è stato presidente della Federazione internazionale di scherma fino al 1° marzo 2022 quando ha annunciato le dimissioni, effetto delle sanzioni europee definite da lui «ingiuste»). Un «pacchetto» di interventi che ha previsto anche lavori al Foro di Traiano per 1,5 milioni di euro . Il rapporto con Usmanov non portò bene a Marino: quando scoppiò il caso degli scontrini del sindaco, nell’elenco delle spese “non istituzionalmente giustificate” c’era anche una cena da 3.540 euro con il magnate di origine uzbeke.

Lo stipendio di Capello

I fili che legano Usmanov al Belpaese passano indirettamente anche attraverso il calcio. Come altri oligarchi putiniani ha investito anche lui nello sport, entrando nel capitale del club londinese Arsenal nel 2007 prima di vendere le sue azioni. Ha poi reinvestito nell’Everton, controllato al 94% da uno dei suoi soci in affari, l’iraniano-britannico Farhad Moshiri. Fu proprio il magnate uzbeko di passaporto russo a portare avanti i contatti con Carlo Ancelotti che ha guidato la squadra tra il 2019 e il 2021. L’altro episodio risale al 2015 e riguarda il travagliato rapporto di Fabio Capello come allenatore della nazionale russa. In soccorso della Federcalcio russa per il problema del mancato pagamento degli stipendi arretrati del ct (otto milioni di euro) intervenne proprio Usmanov con un credito agevolato da oltre 5 milioni di euro.

Usmanov si è dimostrato generoso verso l’Italia anche nella sua patria d’adozione, la Russia. Villa Berg - uno dei palazzi nobiliari di tarda epoca zarista più rinomati e sede dell’ambasciata d’Italia a Mosca - è stata restaurata nel 2017 grazie a imponenti lavori di ristrutturazione da quasi sei milioni di euro assicurati dal magnate russo. Un palazzo intriso di storia che - scriveva il ministro degli Esteri russo Sergej Lavrov nell’introduzione del volume sui lavori pubblicato dall’ambasciata italiana - rappresenta «il biglietto da visita degli italiani in Russia».

L’attaccamento all’Italia ha fruttato al miliardario amico dello “zar Putin” («Sono orgoglioso di conoscere Putin e il fatto che a nessuno piaccia Putin non è un problema di Putin. Non penso che il mondo amasse Truman dopo Nagasaki») il riconoscimento delle istituzioni del nostro Paese: nell’ottobre del 2016, su proposta della Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri - al governo c’era Matteo Renzi - il capo dello Stato Sergio Mattarella ha conferito al «dott. Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov» l’ordine al merito della Repubblica, col grado di commendatore. Con la guerra scatenata dalla Russia contro l’Ucraina e le sanzioni dell’Ue contro gli oligarchi di Putin, la Farnesina ha fatto sapere che è stata avviata la procedura per la revoca delle onorificenze concesse a cittadini russi. Tra i “degradati” ci sarà anche il generoso Usmanov?

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Il miliardario uzbeko Usmanov: «Le sanzioni contro la Russia sono un errore colossale»

Figlio di un pubblico ministero, cittadino anche russo, ha guadagnato il primo milione producendo sacchetti di plastica. Secondo Forbes è il 140esimo uomo più ricco del mondo che nel 2017 il Presidente Mattarella ha insignito del titolo di Commendatore dell'Ordine al merito della Repubblica italiana 

BODRUM (TURCHIA) - «Da bambino il mio romanzo preferito era "I tre moschettieri" di Alexandre Dumas . Da quella lettura derivano due tratti salienti della mia vita. Il primo è la passione per la scherma , che ho iniziato a praticare a tredici anni e mi ha portato a diventare presidente della Federazione internazionale (dal 2008 al 2022, ndr ). Il secondo è il motto "Uno per tutti e tutti per uno" condiviso dalle famiglie dell’Uzbekistan, il mio Paese. E così continuo a lottare contro le sanzioni , anche per difendere i miei famigliari. Mia sorella, ginecologa, è stata costretta a rifiutare per sempre la mia eredità e, nonostante questo, rimane ingiustamente sotto sanzioni». È con queste parole che inizia l’intervista al miliardario Alisher Usmanov in una villa sul mare immersa nella vegetazione mediterranea, tra ulivi e oleandri.

A causa delle sanzioni, lo yacht Dilbar - appartenente a un trust - è stato congelato dalle autorità tedesche , Usmanov non può trascorrere le ferie ad Arzachena, dove è cittadino onorario, e ha dovuto interrompere le cure in una clinica in Germania , dov’era sottoposto a una terapia per una malattia autoimmune che gli sta mettendo a rischio la vista. Anziché spendere i suoi denari in Costa Smeralda, soggiorna in un resort sulla costa turca dell’Egeo . Ed è qui che si racconta, tra una tazza di thè e un biscotto di marzapane. Alisher è un nome composto da Ali, cugino di Maometto , e Sher, che in persiano vuol dire leone . A chiamarsi così era il poeta timuride Navoì (1441-1501) a cui sono dedicati molti monumenti in Uzbekistan. Figlio di un pubblico ministero , Usmanov è nato nel 1953 nella valle della Fergana , quando l’Uzbekistan era ancora sovietica. «A quel tempo le opportunità si concentravano a Mosca e mi trasferii nella capitale per iscrivermi all’università ». I primi passi nel mondo degli affari avvengono durante la Perestrojka : «Mi era capitato tra le mani un libro di chimica, lessi dei polimeri e iniziai a produrre sacchetti di plastica, a quel tempo la gente li lavava e riutilizzava . È così che guadagnai il primo milione».

Usmanov è stato tra i primi a investire in Facebook ed è comproprietario – con meno del 50% - della holding Usm, che comprende il secondo operatore di telefonia mobile russo, MegaFon , il conglomerato industriale russo Metalloinvest, Udokan Copper e il produttore di cemento Ackermann Cement . Al compimento dei 63 anni, età a cui il profeta Maometto passò a miglior vita, aveva deciso di ritirarsi dall’imprenditoria e dedicarsi al mecenatismo finanziando anche il restauro del Foro di Traiano a Roma , tant’è che nel 2017 il Presidente Mattarella lo aveva insignito del titolo di Commendatore dell'Ordine al merito della Repubblica italiana . Le sanzioni, innescate per i presunti rapporti con il Presidente russo Putin, impediscono però queste forme di mecenatismo.

Usmanov combatte una battaglia su più fronti, anche contro i media: «La rivista Forbes mi ha definito un prestanome di Putin, ho fatto causa e ho vinto, ma questa definizione è stata ripresa dall'Ue nelle motivazioni delle sanzioni. Un analista ha pubblicato un tweet in cui affermava che ero l'oligarca preferito di Putin , per poi cancellarlo su richiesta del mio avvocato. Anche l'Ufficio federale di polizia criminale tedesco ha eliminato una pubblicazione in cui definiva mia sorella proprietaria dello yacht Dilbar».

Il paradosso del regime sanzionatorio è come siano stati raggiunti obiettivi opposti a quelli dichiarati: « Volevano danneggiare l'economia russa, ed eccola in crescita . Volevano punire l’élite imprenditoriale, e i russi hanno riportato il denaro in patria. L’economia russa si sta adattando alle sanzioni, mentre i mercati vicini ne soffrono. L'Europa rifiuta le risorse energetiche russe ed è costretta ad acquistarle a un prezzo ben superiore . Non voglio dipingere un quadro in bianco e nero: le sanzioni sono indubbiamente dannose per tutti, ma finora lo sono di più per gli europei». In un mondo in cui aumentano le sanzioni e le barriere commerciali, secondo Usmanov « vi saranno meno opportunità per le imprese transnazionali e più possibilità per le imprese regionali e nazionali. Le barriere commerciali possono servire a proteggere i mercati nazionali, mentre le sanzioni sono un segno di impotenza».

Nel corso della nostra conversazione, Usmanov ritorna sulle conseguenze delle sanzioni: «A settant’anni, invece di concentrarmi sulla salute e sulla beneficenza, spreco le mie energie combattendo le sanzioni e l'assurda persecuzione politica nei miei confronti in Germania », osserva. «L’ho già sperimentato una volta: all’età di ventisei anni, finii in carcere, vittima di un regolamento di conti contro il padre di un amico , il numero due del Kgb dell’Uzbekistan sovietico. Riuscii a essere riabilitato e la sentenza fu annullata . Se Dio vuole, ci riuscirò anche adesso, sono laureato in Giurisprudenza e credo nello Stato di diritto».

A proposito della guerra in Ucraina, Usmanov preferisce non discutere di crimini e osserva: « Una pace duratura è possibile solo sulla base della ragionevolezza e del compromesso , raggiungibile attraverso la negoziazione tra tutte le parti». Gli chiedo se dallo scioglimento dell'Unione Sovietica a oggi, soprattutto dopo l’invasione dell’Ucraina, vede ancora la Russia come garante dell'ordine regionale e lui risponde: « Dovremmo sforzarci di coesistere sulla base di accordi reciprocamente vantaggiosi o almeno accettabili . In un mondo multipolare la sicurezza della regione eurasiatica deve tenere conto degli interessi della Russia, della Cina, dei Paesi dell'Asia Centrale, della Turchia e dell'Ue».

Il tempo a disposizione sta per terminare, restano pochi minuti per qualche considerazione sportiva. Dapprima sulla scherma, la cui rilevanza sta aumentando: « Per la prima volta tre anni fa, ai Giochi Olimpici di Tokyo, sono state aggiudicate ben dodici serie di medaglie nella scherma - anziché le consuete dieci - e quest’anno a Parigi hanno vinto i rappresentanti di quattro continenti e tredici Paesi». E infine, una nota sul calcio, accompagnata da un sorriso: « La mia squadra del cuore è l’Arsenal . In Italia, quando c’era Silvio Berlusconi tifavo per il Milan, ora per l’Atalanta ».

* ricercatrice senior in Storia contemporanea presso l’Università dell’Insubria e delegata per gli Affari istituzionali e diplomatici presso il DISUIT (Dipartimento di Scienze Umane e dell’Innovazione per il Territorio)

Corriere della Sera è anche su Whatsapp . È sufficiente cliccare qui per iscriversi al canale ed essere sempre aggiornati.-->

22 agosto 2024 ( modifica il 22 agosto 2024 | 13:26)

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Experts puzzle over why Bayesian yacht sank. Was it a 'black swan event'?

The Bayesian set off on a leisurely cruise around Italy's southern coast on a sunny day in late July.

The luxurious super yacht − which boasted one of the largest masts in the world and carried a crew of business moguls, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his family and a chair of Morgan Stanley − set sail from the Amalfi Coast, bound for Sicily.

Less than a month later, the ship had sunk 160 feet under the water , leaving its cook dead and six of its passengers, including at least two Americans, missing and prompting a massive search that has drawn international attention.

Now, experts are trying to piece together why in the early hours Monday the Bayesian was quickly pulled under the waves amid a storm that saw at least one tornado spin up over the water.

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A perfect storm led to Bayesian sinking, experts say

The combination of unlikely factors that could have contributed to the ship's fate constituted a "black swan event," Matthew Schanck, chairman of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told USA TODAY.

The Bayesian was well-built: A 2008 product of Italian ship maker Perini, it was constructed in accordance with international maritime standards and commercially certified by the U.K.'s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, according to Schanck.

The bout of bad weather that swept the area when the ship went down was also out of the ordinary in the northern Mediterranean, "which isn't renowned for prolonged, significant stormy weather," he said.

"The fact that those two elements have then resulted in the foundering of a super yacht is pretty extraordinary," Schanck said. "These things don't happen every day."

After the ship sank just before 5 a.m. local time, 15 people, including a 1-year-old, were pulled from the water. Some were rescued from a life raft by the crew of a ship docked nearby.

Ricardo Thomas, the ship's cook and a native of Antigua, was found dead, according to authorities.

As of Tuesday, six people were missing, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter. Several missing passengers were involved in Lynch's trial on fraud charges, including Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley chair who served as his character witness, and one of Lynch's attorneys. Lynch, accused of fraud after he sold his company to electronics giant Hewlett-Packard, was acquitted of all charges weeks ago.

Who is Mike Lynch? UK entrepreneur among those missing after superyacht sinks off Sicily

Tornado formed over unusually hot water

Storms in the area that night may have whipped up a water spout, a tornado over the water , according to local meteorologists.

It was likely triggered by the water's unusual warmth, said Rick Shema, a certified consulting meteorologist who served in the Navy.

"The water spout was an uncommon occurrence," he said. "But again, these things happen, especially in warmer water."

At 83.7 degrees, water in the area was more than 3 degrees hotter than average on the day the Bayesian sank, likely the result of climate change, Shema said.

"Hurricanes can form at 80 degrees. This was almost four degrees higher than that," he said.

The water spout may have spun up when cooler air dropped from mountainous places nearby onto the hot water, he said. "A water spout is a vortex, basically like a tornado, spinning real fast, sucking up water and moisture as the column rises," he said.

Although water spouts only reach around 120 mph, as compared with tornadoes on land, which can reach up to 300 mph, "you don't need 200 mph to sink a ship," he said.

"Even an average tornado, 120 miles an hour, that's a lot of wind," he said, "which would heel the boat over for sure."

Water spouts spring up suddenly, Shema said. Before they strike, winds can be slow, but "once the water spout comes over, bam, it's on," he said.

Before sunrise, the ship's crew may not have seen the water spout coming. "The visibility was probably a big factor," he said.

With the windows of the yacht opened, as they likely were in the hot weather, the water spout could have triggered water that flooded through the portholes, Shema said, causing the ship to sink.

Tragedy strikes: Scramble to find survivors after Bayesian yacht sinks off Sicily coast

Search continues, but shift to recovery phase approaches

Italian authorities said the Bayesian was probably at anchor when the storm struck, meaning it couldn't maneuver and ride the waves, according to Mitchell Stoller, a captain and maritime expert witness. Other ships in the area that turned on their engines rode out the storm, he said.

"When you're at anchor and you see weather, you start your engine and you put the wind on the bow. You don't let it get on the side," he said.

Schanck said another key question concerns the position of the keel, a heavy weight underneath the boat that acts as a counterbalance to keep it upright, when the ship sank. When lifted, "that's going to affect the stability of the vessel, because, obviously, you've now raised the center of gravity of that vessel," he said.

The Bayesian was floating over 160 feet of water at the time, deep enough that the keel would likely be deployed. But the fact that "the vessel heeled over so heavily makes me question that," Schanck said.

The cause of the disaster may not be known until the ship can be examined in more detail, experts say. Prosecutors in a nearby town have already opened an investigation.

Schanck said investigators will have plenty to work with once the operation moves into a recovery phase.

"The vessel is intact and in good condition on the seabed," he said. "There's a lot of eyewitness accounts from other vessels in the area and the shore."

As the search entered its second day on Tuesday, the rescue effort may shift in that direction soon. "I suspect, later on, today or tomorrow, we'll probably see some mention of a recovery operation being stated," Schanck said.

The decision to would depend on whether rescuers find signs of life in the ship and air pockets or survivable spaces, Schanck said. At this point, survivors on the water's surface looks unlikely. "My professional opinion is that the casualties will be located within the vessel," he said.

"There is a risk versus benefit in all maritime search and rescue incidents," he said. "Where we start transitioning to a recovery phase, that line shifts."

Contributing: Reuters

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

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Lynch Yacht Sinking Off Sicily Proves as Baffling as It Is Tragic

As bodies were recovered, the authorities and experts wondered how a $40 million, stable and secure vessel could have sunk so quickly.

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By Emma Bubola and Michael J. de la Merced

Emma Bubola reported from Porticello, Italy, and Michael J. de la Merced from London.

Two months after being cleared in a bruising legal battle over fraud charges, the British tech mogul Mike Lynch celebrated his freedom with a cruise. He invited his family, friends and part of his legal team on board his luxury sailing yacht, a majestic 180-foot vessel named Bayesian after the mathematical theorem around which he had built his empire.

On Sunday night, after a tour of the Gulf of Naples, including Capri, and volcanic islands in the Eolian archipelago, the boat anchored half a mile off the Sicilian coast in Porticello, Italy. It chose a stretch of water favored by the Phoenicians thousands of years ago for its protection from the mistral wind and, in more recent times, by the yachts of tech billionaires. The boat was lit “like a Christmas tree,” local residents said, standing out against the full moon.

But about 4 a.m., calamity unfolded. A violent and fast storm hit the area with some of the strongest winds locals said they had ever felt. Fabio Cefalù, a fisherman, said he saw a flare pierce the darkness shortly after 4.

Minutes later, the yacht was underwater. Only dozens of cushions from the boat’s deck and a gigantic radar from its mast floated on the surface of the sea, fishermen said.

In all, 22 people were on board, 15 of whom were rescued. Six bodies — five passengers and the ship’s cook — had been recovered by Thursday afternoon, including that of Mr. Lynch, an Italian government official said, adding that the search was continuing for his daughter.

It was a tragic and mystifying turn of events for Mr. Lynch, 59, who had spent years seeking to clear his name and was finally inaugurating a new chapter in his life. Experts wondered how a $40 million yacht, so robust and stable could have been sunk by a storm near a port within minutes.

“It drives me insane,” said Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought the company, Perini, that made the Bayesian. “Following all the proper procedures, that boat is unsinkable.”

The aura of misfortune only deepened when it emerged that Stephen Chamberlain, 52, a former vice president of finance for Mr. Lynch’s former company and a co-defendant in the fraud case, was killed two days earlier, when he was hit by a car while jogging near his house in England.

Since June, the two men had been in a jubilant mood. A jury in San Francisco had acquitted both on fraud charges that could have sent them to prison for two decades. There were hugs and tears, and they and their legal teams went for a celebratory dinner party at a restaurant in the city, said Gary S. Lincenberg, a lawyer for Mr. Chamberlain.

The sea excursion was meant as a thank-you by Mr. Lynch to those who had helped him in his legal travails. Among the guests was Christopher J. Morvillo, 59, a scion of a prominent New York family of lawyers who had represented Mr. Lynch for 12 years. He and his wife, Neda, 57, were among the missing.

So, too, was Jonathan Bloomer, 70, a veteran British insurance executive who chaired Morgan Stanley International and the insurer Hiscox.

The body of the ship’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered. All the other crew members survived. Among them was Leo Eppel, 19, of South Africa, who was on his first yacht voyage working as a deck steward, said a friend, who asked not to be identified.

Since the sinking, the recovery effort and investigation have turned the tiny port town of Porticello, a quiet enclave where older men sit bare-chested on balconies, into what feels like the set of a movie.

Helicopters have flown overhead. Ambulances have sped by with the sirens blaring. The Coast Guard has patrolled the waters off shore, within sight of a cordoned-off dock that had been turned into an emergency headquarters.

On Wednesday afternoon, a church bell tolled after the first body bag was loaded into an ambulance, a crowd watching in silence.

The survivors were sheltering in a sprawling resort near Porticello, with a view of the shipwreck spot, and had so far declined to comment.

Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said that the yacht had most likely been hit by a fierce “down burst” — when air generated within a thunderstorm descends rapidly — or by a waterspout , similar to a tornado over water.

He added that his agency had put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about storms and strong winds. Locals said the winds “felt like an earthquake.”

Mr. Costantino, the boat executive, said the yacht had been specifically designed for having a tall mast — the second-tallest aluminum mast in the world. He said the Bayesian was an extremely safe and secure boat that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing.

But he said that if some of the hatches on the side and in the stern, or some of the deck doors, had been open, the boat could have taken on water and sunk. Standard procedure in such storms, he said, is to switch on the engine, lift the anchor and turn the boat into the wind, lowering the keel for extra stability, closing doors and gathering the guests in the main hall inside the deck.

12 guests occupied the yacht’s six cabins. There were also 10 crew members.

Open hatches, doors and cabin windows could have let in water during a storm, according to the manufacturer.

Open hatches, doors and

cabin windows could

have let in water

during a storm,

according to the

manufacturer.

Source: Superyacht Times, YachtCharterFleet, MarineTraffic

By Veronica Penney

The New York Times attempted to reach the captain, James Cutfield, who had survived, for comment through social media, his brother and the management company of the yacht (which did not hire the crew), but did not make contact.

So far none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened that night.

Fabio Genco, the director of Palermo’s emergency services, who treated some of the survivors, said that the victims had recounted feeling as if the boat was being lifted, then suddenly dropped, with objects from the cabins falling on them.

The Italian Coast Guard said it had deployed a remotely operated vehicle that can prowl underwater for up to seven hours at a depth of more than 980 feet and record videos and images that they hoped would help them reconstruct the dynamics of the sinking. Such devices were used during the search and rescue operations of the Titan vessel that is believed to have imploded last summer near the wreckage of the Titanic.

After rescuers broke inside the yacht, they struggled to navigate the ropes and many pieces of furniture cluttering the vessel, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for Italy’s national firefighter corps.

Finally, as of Thursday morning, they had managed to retrieve all but one of the missing bodies, and hopes of finding the missing person alive were thin. “Can a human being be underwater for two days?” Mr. Cari asked.

What was certain was that Mr. Lynch’s death was yet another cruel twist of fate for a man who had spent years seeking to clear his name.

He earned a fortune in technology and was nicknamed Britain’s Bill Gates. But for more than a decade, he had been treated as anything but a respected tech leader.

He was accused by Hewlett-Packard, the American technological pioneer that had bought his software company, Autonomy, for $11 billion, of misleading it about his company’s worth. (Hewlett-Packard wrote down the value of the transaction by about $8.8 billion, and critics called it one of the worst deals of all time .) He had been increasingly shunned by the British establishment that he sought to break into after growing up working-class outside London.

He was extradited to San Francisco to face criminal charges, and confined to house arrest and 24-hour surveillance on his dime. In a townhouse in the Pacific Heights neighborhood — with security people he jokingly told associates were his “roommates” — he spent his mornings talking with researchers whom he funded personally on new applications for artificial intelligence. Afterward, he devoted hours to discussing legal strategy with his team.

Despite his persistent claims of innocence, even those close to Mr. Lynch had believed his odds of victory were slim. Autonomy’s chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was convicted in 2018 of similar fraud charges and spent five years in prison.

During Mr. Lynch’s house arrest, his brother and mother died. His wife, Angela Bacares, frequently flew over from England, and she became a constant presence in the San Francisco courtroom during the trial.

After he was finally acquitted, Mr. Lynch had his eye on the future. “I am looking forward to returning to the U.K. and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field,” he said.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Pallanza, Italy.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in Rome. More about Emma Bubola

Michael J. de la Merced has covered global business and finance news for The Times since 2006. More about Michael J. de la Merced

The 5 tragic minutes that sank a superyacht

PORTICELLO, Italy — Survivors of a storm that sank a superyacht off Sicily recounted their ordeal to one of the doctors who rushed to their aid, with some saying it took mere minutes for the 180-foot ship to go down. 

Dr. Fabio Genco, head of the Palermo Emergency Medical Services, told NBC News on the phone Thursday that he arrived in the seaside village of Porticello before dawn Monday, about an hour after the $40 million Bayesian sank in the violent and sudden storm.   

Of the 22 people onboard, 15 survived despite storm conditions and darkness, climbing onto a lifeboat before being rescued by a nearby sailboat. The crew members have made no public statements so far, though some have been interviewed by investigators.

“They told me that it was all dark, that the yacht hoisted itself up and then went down,” Genco said, recounting what the survivors told him. “All the objects were falling on them. That’s why I immediately made sure, by asking them questions, if they had any internal injuries,” he said. 

It appears they had just minutes to abandon the sinking ship, Genco said. 

“They told me that suddenly they found themselves catapulted into the water without even understanding how they had got there,” he said, “And that the whole thing seems to have lasted from 3 to 5 minutes.”

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini Navi, the Bayesian's shipbuilder, told Sky News that there were no flaws with the design or construction of the yacht. He said their structure and keel made boats like that “unsinkable bodies.”

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he disavowed responsibility, blaming instead the actions of the crew. “Mistakes were made,” he said. 

Genco said one of his colleagues who arrived at the scene before him initially thought that only three people survived, but the coast guard reported there were other survivors and more emergency services were called in. 

When Genco arrived, he found scenes of panic and despair. 

“Unfortunately, we are used to such panic scenes because we are used to the shipwrecks that happen on Lampedusa ,” Genco said, referring to the island southwest of Sicily, where the wreckage of boats carrying migrants on the sea journey from North Africa to Italy are often found . 

Six of the passengers were declared missing Monday, and by Thursday, the bodies of five had been recovered from the wreck , some 160 feet underwater.

Among those who survived is Angela Bacares, wife of the British tech mogul Mike Lynch , whose body was recovered Thursday. 

Another survivor has been identified as Charlotte Emsley, 35. She told the Italian news agency ANSA that she had momentarily lost hold of her year-old daughter, Sofia, in the water but managed to retrieve her and hold her over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were pulled into safety.

Dr. Domenico Cipolla at the Di Cristina Children’s Hospital in Palermo is also part of a team of medical professionals treating the shipwreck survivors. He told the BBC on Wednesday that Emsley and her daughter, as well as the father of the child, who Cipolla said also survived, are continuing to receive psychological help. 

“Psychological support was constant and is constant even today, because basically it is the wounds of the soul that are the most in need of healing in these cases,” Cipolla said.

Genco also told NBC News that he was especially concerned about the child. “She did not understand anything. She was soaking wet and cold,” he said. 

Karsten Borner, the Dutch captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell, a yacht that was anchored near the Bayesian, said by phone Wednesday that he saw a thunderstorm come in at around 4 a.m. local time (10 p.m. ET) Monday, followed by what looked like a waterspout, a type of tornado that forms over water. 

The International Centre for Waterspout Research noted on X that there was a “waterspout outbreak” off Italy on Monday, the day the Bayesian sank. 

“I turned on the engine and made maneuvers so that we wouldn’t collide with the Bayesian, which was anchored about 100 meters from us,” Borner said. “Then all of a sudden it disappeared. Then the wind calmed down, we looked around and saw a red flare.”

Borner said he got into his boat’s tender and saw a life raft with 15 people on it. Members of the crew were administering first aid. 

“I don’t know why it sank so quickly, but it may have something to do with the mast which was incredibly long,” he said. Questions have been raised about whether the mast was to blame for the accident as tall masts, even with the sails down, have more surface area exposed to the wind, which can contribute to tipping a vessel in a storm.

The CCTV footage that emerged Tuesday showed the yacht’s 250-foot mast, believed to be one of the tallest aluminum sailing masts in the world, lashed by the storm as it appears to tilt to one side before disappearing.

Claudia Rizzo is an Italy based journalist.

Claudio Lavanga is Rome-based foreign correspondent for NBC News.

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.