The French run charter yacht Le Ponant has been seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Early reports suggest that although the there were no paying guests aboard at the time, 30-crew have reportedly been taken hostage. There have been no reports of serious injury.

Le Ponant was en route from the Seychelles to the Mediterranean when she was attacked in what France’s Prime Minister Francois Fillon described as ‘a blatant act of piracy’. The government said it had launched a piracy alert plan, mobilising all resources in the area.

Le Ponant is a commercial luxury charter yacht which can carry up to 64 guests. She relies primarily on her main engines for motive power but is capable of sailing. She is a regular in charter hot spots around the world and is thought to have been re-positioning from the Seychelles to the Mediterranean in time for the summer season.

The coast off Somalia is one of the most notorious areas for piracy. Last year it is estimated that 25 ships were seized and many more approached by pirates.

Check out Yachting World’s June issue when we will be looking at security measures crew can take to minimise the risk of being boarded.