Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that the crew of a yacht owned by the Meta CEO failed to respond to a distress call from another vessel last week near the Alaskan coast. The incident involved a small skiff that had run out of fuel and issued a radio call for help on August 3. The nearby small cruise ship, the Wilderness Legacy, responded to the call and towed the skiff to Farragut Bay in southeast Alaska.
According to maritime law expert Ian Ralby, maritime regulations mandate that all ships must assist in response to distress calls, prioritizing the safety of human lives at sea. Despite being closer, Zuckerberg’s yacht, named Launchpad, did not intervene in the situation. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg explained that the crew did not hear the initial distress call from the skiff, and by the time they became aware of it, another nearby ship had already provided assistance.
The spokesperson further clarified that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in distress and that once the crew discovered the distress call on a different radio channel, help was already on the way. The spokesperson also mentioned that Zuckerberg and his family were not present on the yacht during the incident.
Overall, the situation has raised questions about the response protocols of vessels at sea and the importance of adhering to maritime laws to ensure the safety of all individuals risking their lives on the water.