In a recent incident off the coast of Alaska, Mark Zuckerberg's yacht, Launchpad, did not immediately respond to a call for assistance from a 21-foot skiff that had run out of fuel. However, according to maritime law expert Ian Ralby and U.S. Coast Guard statements, the crew was not legally obligated to help as the small vessel was not in distress. The incident occurred on August 3, with the Wilderness Legacy cruise ship eventually stepping in to tow the skiff to safety after it had made a distress call to the Coast Guard via a radio frequency all boats are expected to monitor. The Launchpad crew reportedly did not immediately hear the call for help and by the time they did, assistance was already underway. Ralby compared the situation to calling AAA versus 911, stating that while both needed assistance, the legal obligations to respond were very different. The Coast Guard determined within half an hour of the skiff's distress call that it was not in immediate danger and issued a marine assistance request. The Wilderness Legacy responded and reached the stranded vessel about an hour later. Ralby noted that the situation was resolved without harm to life or concern for the marine environment, and that mariners are legally obligated to respond in cases of urgent distress calls involving threats to life or the marine environment. Zuckerberg's family was not onboard Launchpad at the time of the incident.