Le Ponant Recovered From Somali - Crew Is Safe

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The French luxury yacht “Le Ponant” has been which was hijacked by pirates is now safe and the crew has also been freed.

For those who are not yet aware about the issue, here is what all you need to know –
On April 5th 2008 Pirates had boarded the French luxury cruise yacht off the coast of Somalia and took its entire crew hostage. The yacht had been seized last Friday in the Gulf of Aden as it sailed towards the Suez Canal, bound for the Mediterranean, from the Seychelles.
The 850-tonne, three-masted yacht was carrying about 30 crew but had no passengers on board.
The president of France Mr Nicolas Sarkozy sent out French military forces and a US-led task force, which were present in the area Infact there was also news that yacht owner offered to pay $2million which was the reason the pirates handed over the crew back safely.

Currrent status – There is uncertainty but many claim that 3 pirates were killed by a French attack helicopter. Dahir Abdulqadir, a Somali governor in the region near where the yacht was held, said officials had heard "reports over VHF radio that at least eight people were killed." But the office of French President Nicolas Sarkozy denied any pirates died in the raid.

After the hostages were freed, they were put on a French military vessel and sent toward Djibouti. Relatives said they were expected in France on Sunday.

The pirates will be tried in France. Pirates seized more than two dozen ships off Somalia last year, despite United States navy-led international patrols in the region. Speaking internationally over the past 10 years 3,200 sailors had been kidnapped by pirates, 500 injured and 160 killed.




About the yacht –The 88-metre cruise ship yacht is owned by a French cruise company CMA-CGM group. The 32-cabin Ponant, fully equipped with lounges, bar and restaurant, is one of three operated by the Marseille-based firm, which describes itself as France's leading cruise provider.


With a capacity for 64 passengers, it offers several cruises in the Gulf region, including between Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan, and off the coast of Oman, according to the company's website. It weighs The 850-tonne and has 3 massive masts..