Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that his yacht crew, owned by the Meta CEO, allegedly did not respond to a distress call from another vessel off the Alaskan coast last week.
According to the Alaska Beacon, a small skiff ran out of fuel and sent a distress call on Aug. 3 via the U.S. Coast Guard. The nearby small cruise ship, the Wilderness Legacy, came to the skiff’s aid and towed it to Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska as required by maritime law.
Ian Ralby, a maritime law expert, emphasized the obligation for ships to assist those in distress at sea to safeguard lives in peril. Despite being closer, Zuckerberg’s yacht, named Launchpad, did not respond to the distress call.
A spokesperson for Zuckerberg stated that the crew was unaware of the call for help from the skiff and learned about it after another ship had already provided assistance. The spokesperson clarified that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in distress and that all individuals involved were safe by the time the crew was made aware.
Zuckerberg and his family were reportedly not present on the yacht during the incident.