Pirates seize CMA CGM sailing cruiseship

Sunday 6 April 2008

Ponant:seized off Somalia Ponant:seized off Somalia
PIRATES stormed a luxury sailing  cruiseship owned by a CMA CGM subsidiary off the coast of Somalia on Friday and took its 30 crew hostage, prompting Paris to send troops to the area to secure the prisoners’ release.

The Ponant was heading from the Seychelles to the Mediterranean Sea when pirates stormed it in the Gulf of Aden, which lies between Somalia and Yemen,said CMA CGM in a statement.
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There were no holidaymakers on board adding that most of the crew are French.

"It is a blatant act of piracy. We have relatively large military means in this area. We are mobilised to obtain the release of the hostages as quickly as possible," French Prime Minister Francois Fillon told reporters in Brussels

France has 2,900 troops stationed in Djibouti, which borders Somalia and also lies on the Gulf of Aden. 

CMA CGM said it is collaborating closely with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French authorities are dealing with all issues relating to the hijack. 

The French navy was tracking the vessel on Saturday but wants to avoid any use of force to free the 30 crew.








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