Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that his yacht’s crew did not respond to a distress call from another vessel near Alaska last week. The incident involved a small skiff running out of fuel and requesting assistance through the U.S. Coast Guard on August 3. The nearby cruise ship, Wilderness Legacy, ultimately provided aid by towing the skiff to Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska.
According to maritime law expert Ian Ralby, ships are obligated to assist when receiving distress calls at sea to ensure the safety of those in need. Despite being closer to the skiff, Zuckerberg’s yacht, named Launchpad, did not respond to the call for help. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg stated that the crew did not hear the distress call in time, as another ship had already stepped in to help.
The spokesperson clarified that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in distress, and by the time the crew became aware of the situation on a different radio channel, assistance was already in progress. Fortunately, all parties involved were safe. It was noted that Zuckerberg and his family were not present on the yacht during the incident.