Ambrogio Cardozio, head of Termini Imeris’ public prosecutor’s office, announced the investigation at a news conference, saying the investigation had not yet targeted any individual.
Fifteen people survived, including Lynch’s wife, a company owned by Bayesian, and the boat’s captain.
Captain James Cutfield and other survivors were questioned by authorities this week. None of them have commented publicly on how the ship crashed.
Another attorney, Rafael Camerano, speaking at the same news conference, said Cutfield was “very cooperative” when authorities questioned him.
Pulling the Bayesian out of the ocean can help investigators figure out what happened, but the move can be complicated and expensive. The wreck lies intact on its side at a depth of 50 meters (164 feet).
“Saving the ship is in the interests of its owners and managers,” said Cardozio, “who have pledged their full cooperation”.
The captain, crew and passengers are under no legal obligation to remain in Italy, but authorities expect them to cooperate with the investigation.
The sinking has puzzled naval oceanographers, who say the Bayesian-like boat, built by Italian high-end boatmaker Perini, should have withstood the storm and should not have sunk so quickly under any circumstances.
Searching for bodies
Cammarano said the passengers were probably all asleep during the storm, which is why they failed to escape.
Divers have been searching the sunken ship all week for bodies, with Hannah Lynch finally rescued on Friday. The five other dead passengers were rescued on Wednesday and Thursday, while the body of the only dead crew member, onboard cook Regalto Thomas, was recovered on Monday.
Mike Lynch, 59, was one of Britain’s top tech entrepreneurs and had invited friends to join him on a boat to celebrate his acquittal in June in a US fraud trial.
Among those killed in the wreckage were Lynch’s lawyer Chris Morvillo and Morgan Stanley banker Jonathan Bloomer, who appeared as a character witness in the case on his behalf.
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Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari Writing by Frances Kerry Editing by Kirsten Donovan
Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
