Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that the crew of a yacht belonging to the Meta CEO did not respond to a distress call from another vessel off the Alaskan coast last week. The incident involved a small skiff running out of fuel and requesting assistance via the U.S. Coast Guard on August 3. The nearby Wilderness Legacy, a small cruise ship, came to the skiff’s aid and towed it to Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska, in accordance with maritime law mandating ships to assist in distress situations.
Maritime law expert Ian Ralby emphasized the obligation to aid fellow seafarers in need, stating that protecting lives at sea is paramount due to the inherent dangers of maritime activities. Despite being closer to the distressed skiff, Zuckerberg’s yacht, named Launchpad, did not respond to the call for help. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg explained to the Alaska Beacon that the crew had not initially heard the distress call, and by the time they became aware, another vessel had already intervened.
The spokesperson further clarified that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in immediate peril, and once the crew became aware of the situation through a different radio channel, assistance was already in progress. Fortunately, all parties involved were reported safe. It was also noted that Zuckerberg and his family were not present on the yacht during the incident.