Le Ponant is not actually a yacht anymore, but a full-fledged passenger sailing vessel designed for cruises and owned by the large French carrier CMA CGM. Le Ponant can accommodate up to 67 passengers in 32 comfortable cabins. In keeping with French yachting tradition, the vessel is armed with a three-masted Bermuda schooner. Le Ponant became well known in April 2008 when the ship (without passengers) was hijacked by Somali pirates. A ransom was paid, after which the pirates released the crew. On shore, they were pursued by French commandos and some of the pirates were killed, six of them were captured and sent to France for trial. They also managed to recover some of the ransom money.
