The French luxury yacht Le Ponant was seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden near Somalia on April 4, 2008. The boat was returning to the Mediterranean Sea, and thus not carrying any passengers, but 30 crew members have been taken captive.
The incident is one of several attacks by Somali pirates over the past year. (An estimated 20 ships have been seized near Somalia in this fashion). The International Maritime Bureau has recommended that all vessels stay at least 200 nautical miles away from the nation's coastline.
The Ponant is a 32-cabin, four-deck yacht that can hold a maximum of 64 passengers.
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Fast Facts
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Cruising Speed
14 knots
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Horse Power
2,200 hp
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Registry
France
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Length
88m
