Mark Zuckerberg is being scrutinized following reports that the crew of a yacht belonging to the Meta CEO did not respond to a distress call from another vessel last week near the Alaskan coast. The incident involved a small skiff running out of fuel and issuing a call for help on August 3, which was answered by the nearby small cruise ship, the Wilderness Legacy, towing the skiff to safety in Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska.
Under maritime law, all ships are obligated to assist in response to distress calls or requests for aid, except if such actions pose a risk to the responding vessel. Maritime law expert Ian Ralby emphasized the duty to save lives at sea whenever possible, highlighting the inherent dangers of maritime activities.
Despite being closer, Zuckerberg’s yacht, named Launchpad, did not respond to the distress call. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg explained that the crew did not hear the initial call for help, and by the time they became aware, another nearby ship had already provided assistance.
The spokesperson mentioned that the Coast Guard verified the skiff was not in distress and that the crew on the yacht had missed the initial call due to monitoring a different radio channel. The spokesperson expressed gratitude that all parties involved were safe. It was also clarified that Zuckerberg and his family were not present on the yacht during the incident.