[PUP] 30 French Crew On 228' Sailing Vessel Held For Ransom In Somalia

[Ron Rogers]

Our shipping correspondent reports that the French Le Commandant Rouen warship
was diverted from NATO's Afghanistan operation to join the Yemeni coast guard
in the hunt for and rescue of the captured craft. The Le Ponant caters to 64
high-profile luxury tourists, one of three owned by Le Compagnie Des Iles du
Ponant, a subsidiary of the huge Lebanese-French CMA CGM.

DEBKAfile's sources note that the Gulf of Aden and Somali shores are rife with
pirates. Last year, 24 civilian craft were commandeered by pirates. In one
case, the American Navy's USS Porter opened fire on a pirate ship threatening
a Japanese tanker; in another, pirates released a Danish merchant vessel with
hostages against a large ransom after holding them for two months.

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Last night they were still, held by pirates. This is the first time that a
cruise ship was seized by pirates.

Since the announcement of the hostage taking, the French government has
launched the "Sea Pirate Plan", which calls for "the mobilization of all
available resources in the zone."

In this case a maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2, based in Djibouti; and
the Task Force 150, an international maritime force under American command.