Post by : Bianca
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A yacht owned by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg did not respond to a US Coast Guard request for assistance after a nearby boat ran out of fuel off the coast of Alaska, according to Zuckerberg’s spokesperson.
The yacht, named Launchpad, was reportedly closer to the stranded boat than a nearby small cruise ship. However, its crew did not hear the Coast Guard request in time because the call was made on a different radio channel from the one they were monitoring.
Zuckerberg was not on board the yacht when the incident occurred, his spokesperson said on Sunday.
Cruise Ship Rescues Stranded Boat
According to Alaska Beacon, the stranded skiff contacted the US Coast Guard for assistance after running out of fuel in southeast Alaska.
The nearby cruise ship Wilderness Legacy responded to the request. Its crew rescued the stranded boat and towed it to Farragut Bay, where it could be refuelled.
Launchpad was reportedly closer to the skiff but did not respond to the Coast Guard call.
Passengers React to the Incident
The incident attracted attention online after Michael Love, a passenger aboard the Wilderness Legacy, described the rescue in a post on Bluesky.
Love said he was travelling on an Alaska cruise with his son when the ship’s crew assisted the stranded boat. He said passengers later reacted with what he described as “near-unanimous booing” after the captain announced that Zuckerberg’s yacht had not responded to the call.
Love also said he believed the situation could have provided an opportunity for Zuckerberg to help people in need and gain positive publicity.
Zuckerberg Spokesperson Explains What Happened
Zuckerberg’s spokesperson said the yacht’s crew did not intentionally ignore the request for help.
According to the spokesperson, the Coast Guard had determined that the skiff was not in distress. By the time Launchpad’s crew reviewed the Coast Guard communication, the Wilderness Legacy was already assisting the stranded boat.
The spokesperson said the Coast Guard message had been sent on a radio channel that Launchpad’s crew was not monitoring at the time.
The spokesperson also confirmed that everyone involved in the incident was safe.
What Happened to the Stranded Boat?
The skiff ran out of fuel off the coast of Alaska and contacted the US Coast Guard for assistance. The Wilderness Legacy responded and towed the boat to Farragut Bay for refuelling.
Although Launchpad was reportedly closer, its crew did not hear the request until after another vessel had already begun helping.
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