Originally published by The Superyacht Group.

In the typically calm waters off Sicily, an incident brought renewed attention to the importance of safety aboard superyachts. On 19 August 2024, the 56-metre Bayesian was hit by freak weather and sunk in as little as 16 minutes just off the coast of Porticello, resulting in the loss of seven lives.  Whilst the UK-based Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report was released on 15 May 2025 and other investigations continue including following the recovery of the yacht, this event serves as a difficult reminder of the importance of rigorous safety standards.

Many private superyachts are not required to comply with the International Safety Management (ISM) Code due to their size or non-commercial use. However, an increasing number of owners are voluntarily adopting Safety Management Systems (SMS) as a proactive way to enhance preparedness and reduce potential liability in the event of an incident.

In this article, Reed Smith Transportation Industry Group lawyers Gaby Sweidan and Roberto Peroni examine how adopting compliance measures represents a strategic investment in both risk mitigation and long-term value.

Read the full story here.