A mega yacht belonging to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg failed to answer a call for help from a stranded boat in Alaska, it is claimed.
A 21-foot skiff ran out of fuel between Petersburg and Juneau during the incident earlier this month, before the cruise ship Wilderness Legacy came to its aid, The Alaska Beacon reported.
But according to a passenger aboard the cruise ship, Zuckerberg’s Launchpad, reportedly worth $300 million, was actually nearer to the stricken vessel at the time.
“Our boat rescued a stranded vessel last night and apparently we did that after the Coast Guard radioed Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht – which was closer – and they repeatedly refused to respond. (There was near unanimous booing when the captain announced this),” according to a social media post by passenger Michael Love seen by The Beacon.
“Frankly, if I was Mark Zuckerberg I would be absolutely ecstatic at a chance to do something helpful for someone in need and maybe get some good PR out of it.”
A spokesperson for Zuckerberg told The Independent that LaunchPad had been on a different radio channel, and that by the time the crew became aware of the problem, help was already underway.
Neither the Meta CEO nor his family were onboard the 387ft vessel at the time, the spokesperson added.
The incident, which the U.S. Coast Guard said occurred on August 1, took place near Farragut Bay some 35 miles north of Petersburg.
“At approximately 9:56 p.m., the Coast Guard determined they [the skiff] were not in distress and issued a marine assistance request broadcast on their behalf,” a Coast Guard spokesperson told The Beacon.
According to vessel tracking services used by the outlet, the Launchpad slowed to a halt outside the bay while the Wilderness moved past to helped the skiff. The Independent has contacted Meta for comment.
“Mark and his family were not on board at the time of the incident,” a spokesperson for Zuckerberg told The Independent.
“As the Coast Guard noted, the boat was not in distress, and by the time the crew reviewed the Coast Guard contact on a different radio channel from the one they were operating on, the assist was already underway. We’re grateful all parties are safe.”
Zuckerberg’s Launchpad is one of the world’s largest private yachts, with room for up to 34 guests in 12 cabins.
It has two helipads, a swimming pool, its own “wellness zone” and is capable of reaching speeds up to 24 knots using four engines.
