French Yacht Hijacked By Pirates Off The Coast Of Somalia

April 6, 2008 2:07 p.m. EST

Paris, France (AHN)- The French government ordered the pull out its navy's warship, Le Commandant Rouen, from NATO's Afghanistan operations Saturday to join the Yemeni Coast Guard in the search and rescue operations of a hijacked yacht, Le Ponant, on Friday off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf Aden.

Cruiser World reported a group of pirates have taken over the 850 ton three-mast luxury vessel with crew onboard, composed of 30 mariners and auxiliaries from France and Ukraine. There were no passengers reported onboard.

Le Ponant, owned by Compagnie des Iles du Ponant and operated by CMA CGM, was on its way to the Mediterranean from the Seychelles. The yacht was scheduled to take onboard passengers in Malta between April 21 and April 22.

France, through its military base in Djibouti, has initially deployed warship Le Commandant Bouan to track the yacht. A helicopter from the Canadian warship Charlottetown also was dispatched, says Cruise World.

The 32-cabin Le Ponant is fully equipped with lounges and a bar and restaurant. With a capacity for 64 passengers, it offers cruises in the Gulf region.

According to CNN, pirate attacks in the waters off Somalia are common. The International Maritime Bureau flagged some parts of the Somalian coast as "high-risk areas" for attacks and hijackings, and warns vessels to avoid Somalia as far as possible.