Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that his yacht crew did not respond to a distress call from a stranded vessel off the coast of Alaska last week. The incident involved a small skiff that had run out of fuel and requested assistance through the U.S. Coast Guard on August 3. The nearby cruise ship Wilderness Legacy responded and towed the skiff to safety in Farragut Bay, southeast Alaska.
According to maritime law expert Ian Ralby, all ships are obligated to aid in distress situations at sea to save lives. Despite being closer, Zuckerberg’s yacht, named Launchpad, did not offer assistance to the skiff. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg explained that the crew did not hear the initial call for help and that another ship had already provided assistance by the time they became aware of the situation.
Zuckerberg and his family were not present on the yacht during the incident. The spokesperson emphasized that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in distress and that all parties involved were safe.
