Mark Zuckerberg is under scrutiny following reports that his yacht crew did not respond to a distress call from another vessel near Alaska last week. The Alaska Beacon revealed that a small skiff in need of assistance issued a distress call on Aug. 3, which was answered by the nearby Wilderness Legacy cruise ship, towing the skiff to safety in Farragut Bay.
According to maritime law, all ships are obligated to assist in response to distress calls unless it jeopardizes their own safety. Maritime law expert Ian Ralby emphasized the duty to rescue individuals at sea to mitigate the risks of maritime activities.
Despite being closer, 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 hear the initial call for help and only became aware after another nearby ship had already provided assistance.
The spokesperson further clarified that the Coast Guard confirmed the skiff was not in distress, and the crew of Zuckerberg’s yacht was informed of the situation on a different radio channel after assistance was already in progress. Fortunately, all parties involved were safe. It was noted that Zuckerberg and his family were not present on the yacht during the incident.