Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that 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 that had run out of fuel and issued a call for help on August 3, which was answered by the nearby small cruise ship named Wilderness Legacy, towing the skiff to Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska.
According to maritime law, all ships are obligated to assist in response to distress calls or requests for help, unless it endangers their own safety. Maritime law expert Ian Ralby emphasized the duty of individuals at sea to aid others in distress to safeguard lives in peril.
Despite being in closer proximity, Zuckerberg’s yacht, named Launchpad, did not respond to the distress call. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg explained to the Alaska Beacon that the crew had not heard the call for help from the skiff initially and that another nearby ship had already intervened by the time they became aware.
The spokesperson further clarified that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in distress, and once the crew was made aware of the situation through a different radio channel, assistance was already being provided. Zuckerberg and his family were not present on the yacht during the incident.
It was reported that all parties involved in the incident were safe, and Zuckerberg’s spokesperson expressed gratitude for the resolution of the situation.