Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that his yacht’s crew failed to respond to a distress call from another vessel off the coast of Alaska last week. The incident involved a small skiff running out of fuel and seeking assistance via the U.S. Coast Guard on August 3. The nearby small cruise ship, Wilderness Legacy, came to the skiff’s aid and towed it to Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska.
According to maritime law expert Ian Ralby, all ships are obligated to assist in response to distress calls, prioritizing the preservation of human life at sea. Despite being closer to the scene, Zuckerberg’s yacht, named Launchpad, did not acknowledge the distress call. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg explained that the crew did not hear the call initially and only became aware of the situation after another nearby vessel had already intervened.
The spokesperson further clarified that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in distress, and by the time the crew received the communication on a different radio channel, help was already on the way. Mark Zuckerberg and his family were reportedly not present on the yacht during the incident.