Zuckerberg’s superyacht ignored an emergency radio call from a stranded boat

Mark Zuckerberg's 287-foot superyacht reportedly ignored emergency broadcasts to assist a stranded boat.

According to Ars Technica, Zuckerberg's superyacht Launchpad and its support ship Wingman failed to respond when the US Coast Guard requested nearby aid for a stranded vessel. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg claimed the boat was "not in distress" and said the crew missed the call because they were using a different radio channel. However, federal regulations require ships with VHF radios to keep a continuous watch on Channel 16, the reserved emergency frequency.

Why it matters: Channel 16 is maritime 911. Ships are legally bound to monitor it so nearby captains can step in when someone needs help on the water. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse publicly called out the yacht's crew for ignoring the rule, adding to past controversy where Launchpad turned off its AIS location transponder to "go dark" from public ship-tracking services.

Know this: Turning off AIS tracking transponders in US waters violates safety regulations. It's a tactic typically limited to luxury yacht owners, illegal fishing boats, and sanctioned oil tankers.

Having a 287-foot superyacht doesn't exempt you from maritime rules.