The 30 crew members taken hostage on the yacht Le Ponant were released Friday near Somalia and the French military captured six pirates believed to be the hostage-takers. The three-masted vessel was captured April 4 as it sailed, without passengers, from the Seychelles to the Mediterranean. The French sent commandos to East Africa, and succeeded in securing the release -- how exactly isn't clear. Some news reports say a ransom of $2 million was paid, but some or all of the money was recovered when the commandos captured the fleeing pirates. Also, Somali news reports say three people were killed in the raid, but French officials denied there were any fatalities.
The vessel is operated by Marseille, France-based Compagnie des Iles du Ponant, and is often chartered by tour operators. Tauck World Discovery uses the ship extensively for its small-ship programs. The International Maritime Bureau advises vessels not to sail within 200 nautical miles of its shore. In November 2005, the Seabourn Spirit was attacked by armed pirates in two motorboats near Somalia, but the captain took evasive action and outran them.
Source: Modern Agent
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