At the beginning of last week, the superyacht launchpad of Mark Zuckerberg It was closer than any other ship to a small boat that had run out of fuel in Alaska, but it was finally a cruise ship located at a greater distance that had to come to her aid and tow her to the coast.
The incident occurred near Farragut Bayin southeastern Alaska, where the boat stayed unable to move on its own. Automatic identification system data AIS reviewed by Alaska Beacon and Halifax Shipping News show that the Launchpad was navigating through the area and was closer to the vessel that needed help than the Wilderness Legacythe small cruise ship that ended up carrying out the rescue, according to The Verge.
A superyacht worth at least 300 million dollars
The Launchpad is a gigantic yacht 118 meters of length, 16.3 of sleeve and 4.4 draft, built by the Dutch shipyard Feadship and delivered to the owner of Meta in 2024. It is powered by four MTU 20V4000M93 diesel engines of 3,900 kW eachhas tanks for 423,700 liters of fuel and 130,000 liters of fresh water, and offers a range of 5,250 nautical miles sailing at 14 knots. Its facilities include two certified helipads, a large pool with a moving floor, a spacious beach club and a private outdoor deck with a jacuzzi.
What Zuckerberg paid for the Launchpad is usually around 300 million dollarsalthough it has never been revealed by the interested party. Forbes has subsequently estimated its value at 390 million. The founder of Meta uses it for private trips and family vacations and in June 2024 he was on board with Priscilla Chan and his three daughters in front Majorcawhere they celebrated Father’s Day and his 70th birthday. The superyacht usually travels accompanied by the wingmana support ship of about 67 meters which is part of Zuckerberg’s fleet.
The version of the passengers and that of Zuckerberg
Michael Loveone of the passengers on the Wilderness Legacy, said in Bluesky that the captain informed the passengers that Zuckerberg’s yacht was closer, but there was ‘repeatedly refused to respond’. The announcement caused boos among those traveling aboard the cruise ship, according to his story.
Navigation data provides part of the context, although it does not allow us to know what communications each ship received. Trace shows Launchpad near the entrance to the bay as the Wilderness Legacy continues sailing, passes it and then changes course to head towards the boat. Finally, the cruiser took her in tow and took her to safety.
The United States Coast Guard has offered a version that qualifies the seriousness of what happened. Your public affairs specialist Shannon Shepard explained to the Alaska Beacon that around 9:56 p.m. the Coast Guard determined that the occupants ‘they were not in danger’ and issued a request for maritime assistance so that a nearby vessel could help them.
From Zuckerberg’s entourage too They deny that the Launchpad crew deliberately ignored a request for help. Brian Bakerspokesperson for Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, explained to The Verge that Neither the founder of Meta nor his family were on board when the incident occurred.
‘As the Coast Guard noted, the vessel was not in distress and, By the time the crew reviewed the Coast Guard advisory, which had come over a different radio channel than the one they were using, the relief operation was already underway.. We are grateful that all parties are safe,’ Baker says.
The explanation thus leaves two versions of what happened. A passenger on the Wilderness Legacy maintains that the Launchpad He did not respond despite being closerwhile Zuckerberg’s spokesperson assures that His crew did not see the communication until another ship was already carrying out the rescue.. What the AIS data does show is that the superyacht was in the vicinity and that it was finally the Wilderness Legacy that changed course to assist the vessel.