Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that his Meta CEO-owned yacht’s crew allegedly did not respond to a distress call from another vessel near Alaska’s coast last week.
According to the Alaska Beacon, a small skiff that ran out of fuel issued a distress call on Aug. 3 via the U.S. Coast Guard. The nearby small cruise ship, the Wilderness Legacy, then towed the skiff to Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska.
Ian Ralby, an expert in maritime law, emphasized the obligation for ships to assist in distress situations at sea to preserve human lives. It is a fundamental principle to safeguard individuals undertaking risky maritime activities.
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 did not initially hear the call for help from the skiff. By the time they were made aware, another vessel had already provided assistance.
The spokesperson further clarified that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in distress, and the crew had switched to a different radio channel when they received the distress call. They expressed gratitude that all parties involved were safe. Zuckerberg and his family were reportedly not present on the yacht during the incident.