Mark Zuckerberg’s Megayacht Fails To Respond to USCG Mariner in Distress Call
Apparently, Bay Area boater Mark Zuckerberg’s $300 million, 387-ft yacht, Launchpad, didn’t get the message when the USCG called them recently to ask if the yacht would come to the aid of a nearby vessel in distress. Perhaps the USCG should have used Facebook Messenger? As the rarefied world of billionaires isolating themselves from reality on their megayachts continues to distort their relationship with humanity, it comes as no surprise that the yacht was not available to help.
The incident occurred while the yacht was in southeast Alaska when a 21-ft skiff ran out of fuel and needed help. Fortunately for the stranded vessel, the Coast Guard was able to contact a small cruise ship that was farther away than Zuckerberg’s, and the captain and crew were able to help the vessel. The Zuckerbergs were not aboard Launchpad and it was not a life-threatening situation, but every sailor knows that when they are the closest vessel to someone in distress, they should respond. It’s been reported that Zuckerberg spokesperson Brian Baker said the yacht’s crew was operating on a different radio channel, which they say is the reason they didn’t respond to the request for aid. It’s been a long time since we were on the bridge of a megayacht, but we’d think they would have a radio monitoring Channel 16.
As reported by MSN, New York software developer Michael Love, who was aboard the rescuing cruise ship Wilderness Legacy, posted on Bluesky that the captain told the passengers and crew that Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht had repeatedly refused to respond, at which point the passengers unanimously booed. Is it any wonder that people are skeptical when billionaires want to build data centers in their neighborhood? We think many sailors feel the same when a megayacht marina moves into the neighborhood or a megayacht anchors nearby and unleashes their armada of toys on a formerly peaceful harbor.
The luxurious megayacht lifestyle insulates those aboard from nature and the maritime community. It reminds us of David Geffen’s tone-deaf post from his 400-ft, $590 million megayacht in Grenada during the COVID lockdown. Megayachts’ bright lights block out the stars, generators block out the sounds of the natural world, and something aboard blocked out the Coast Guard’s request for assistance from Zuckerberg’s yacht Launchpad.
Showing sailing friends the photo of Nantucket Harbor above usually generates a comment like “ick” or “gross” because so many sailors go cruising to “get away from it all.” Modern tech titans, for some reason, want to bring it all with them and disturb formerly quiet harbors. This makes it increasingly difficult for cruisers seeking escape.
It’s hard to believe that a yacht owned by a billionaire who made his fortune connecting the world with social media “didn’t get the message.” It’s possible the captain and crew were scrolling through Instagram like many other distracted drivers, but it remains disturbing to have the yacht unable or unwilling to help with one of the most basic rules of the sea: helping other mariners in distress.
It’s not that billionaires can’t be philanthropic, as we know West Coast sailor Jeff Bezos contributed millions to the New York Met Gala and the new White House ballroom. However, if you are a vessel in distress, the sight of a megayacht on the horizon may not indicate the source of your survival. We continue to be grateful to the Coast Guard and good Samaritans who are listening to Channel 16 and respond when someone is in distress.
Agreed, if you are working on another channel than 16 you should be able to afford a second radio to monitor 16
Isn’t the captian of the Launchpad liable? Isn’t monitoring channel 16 popular?
In the Metaverse, no one cares if you live or die… I guess that goes for the crew of *Launchpad* ….but they were probably just following orders.
Not surprised coming from a rules don’t apply to us billionaire organization. All boats need to monitor 16 at all times and give assistance if they can or at least be a bridge for help. I deleted my FB account years ago and am glad for it.
Given the amount of resources aboard the mega yacht (dinghies, water toys, crew, etc.), it is almost criminal for them not to have helped out.
I think virtually ALL marine band radios have the ability to scan & therefore monitor a number of channels simultaneously including16. Even the older VHF radios (yes, I have redundancy) on my 44′ boat have the ability to do that. To apparently ignore a basic, unwritten law of the sea is absolutely unconscionable. My late husband & I responded several times over the years to others in distress including requests by the USCG for vessels in the vicinity to render assistance.
Retired captain that ran megayachts.
Have been to Alaska many times.
Every yacht I was on had two radios on the bridge.
One was always on 16, Alaska can be a brutal place when a boater calls for help you respond.
That captain should be ashamed of himself and the crew