The builders of the ill-fated Bayesian superyacht, which sank off the coast of Sicily with tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch on board, are reportedly suing his widow for almost £400 million.

The Italian Sea Group (ITS), the company behind the £30m vessel, is said to be taking legal action against Angela Bacares for €456m (£399m), claiming the yacht’s crew was responsible for the tragedy and that the fallout has damaged its commercial reputation.

According to reports, the case has been brought against Bacares as the legal owner of Revtom, the Isle of Man-registered company that owned the yacht.

The sinking killed seven people, including Lynch and their daughter Hannah, while Bacares survived.

ITS, which is majority-owned by Italian yacht businessman Giovanni Costantino, is understood to be arguing that alleged crew negligence led to the yacht’s sinking during a freak weather event described by some as tornado-like conditions.