Specialist divers surveying the wreck of the superyacht Bayesian, which sank off Sicily in August, killing seven people, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, have requested heightened security.

Concerns have arisen over sensitive data possibly stored in encrypted hard drives on board, which may interest foreign governments.

Lynch, linked to British and American intelligence services, founded the cybersecurity company Darktrace.

Italian prosecutors are investigating manslaughter and negligent shipwreck charges, CNN has reported.

The yacht’s wreck will be raised soon, with efforts to protect any classified information it may contain.

Written by B.C. Begley