Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that his yacht crew did not 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 requesting assistance via the U.S. Coast Guard on August 3. The nearby Wilderness Legacy cruise ship ultimately aided the stranded skiff by towing it to Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska, as required by maritime law.
According to maritime law expert Ian Ralby, all ships are obligated to assist in response to distress calls unless it poses a risk to their own safety. Ralby emphasized the importance of preserving lives at sea due to the inherent dangers of maritime activities. Despite being closer to the distress call, Zuckerberg’s yacht, known as Launchpad, did not offer assistance.
A spokesperson for Zuckerberg explained to the Alaska Beacon that the yacht crew did not initially hear the distress call and that another ship had already provided aid by the time they became aware. The Coast Guard confirmed that the skiff was not in immediate distress, and the situation was being addressed when the crew was alerted on a different radio channel.
The spokesperson also clarified that Zuckerberg and his family were not present on the yacht during the incident. The Alaska Beacon reported the spokesperson’s gratitude that all parties involved were safe and accounted for.
