Mark Zuckerberg is defending his $300 million superyacht crew against claims they ignored a stranded boat in Alaska. The 387-foot yacht, Launchpad, was reportedly the nearest vessel to a 21-foot skiff that had run out of fuel on August 3. Instead of assisting, the Launchpad remained idle while a smaller tour boat, Wilderness Legacy, eventually came to the skiff’s aid. A New York tourist alleged on social media that the Coast Guard had contacted Zuckerberg’s yacht, but the crew failed to respond.
Zuckerberg’s spokesperson, Brian Baker, stated that the crew did not hear the distress call, which was broadcast on a standard emergency frequency. Baker emphasized that the situation was not classified as a distress call by the Coast Guard, and by the time they reviewed the communication on a different channel, assistance was already underway. He noted that Zuckerberg and his wife were not aboard the yacht during the incident.
Maritime law expert Ian Ralby explained that while all vessels are legally required to respond to distress calls, the situation here was a request for help rather than an emergency. Retired Coast Guard Captain Aaron C. Davenport added that running out of fuel does not constitute an emergency, although he acknowledged the importance of helping fellow mariners out of common courtesy.
