Zuckerberg's Yacht Did Not Respond to Distress Call in Alaska, Passengers Report

A 387-foot mega-yacht owned by Meta billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, named Launchpad, was near a disabled skiff in Alaskan waters last week but did not answer a radio call for help. The Coast Guard issued a marine assistance request for the 21-foot skiff, which had run out of fuel between Petersburg and Juneau on August 3. A tour boat, the Wilderness Legacy, responded and towed the skiff to Farragut Bay. Passengers on the tour boat reported that Launchpad was closer to the skiff and had not responded to the radio communication, leading to audible disapproval from those aboard the smaller vessel.

A spokesperson for Zuckerberg stated that the Launchpad crew became aware of the situation after the skiff was already being assisted. The spokesperson added that the skiff was not in distress and that the yacht was operating on a different radio channel than the one used for the Coast Guard's contact. Neither Mark Zuckerberg nor his family were on board the Launchpad at the time of the incident.

Maritime law, guided by international conventions stemming from the Titanic disaster, obligates vessels to render assistance to those in distress at sea when signals are received.