Ponant owners call for international force to combat pirates
Statement praises crew courage after ordeal at the hands of pirates...

CMA CGM Group issued a statement yesterday expressing its "intense satisfaction and pleasure at the safe return of the crew of the Ponant",

The French company said the crew were in good health, following the ordeal they have just gone through. "We are truly proud of every one of them, and in particular of Captain Marchesseau." the statement said adding the crew's courage and professionalism was "an example for all".

This successful outcome, the company said, was the result of the close cooperation between CMA CGM and the French government and the security and well-being of the crew have always been the "absolute priority".

The Group thanked Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic of France, who was personally involved, as well as the government agencies concerned and the French Armed Forces.

The Group also wished to thank all the CMA CGM and CIP teams who rallied together efficiently so that this crisis could be resolved rapidly, and who offered support and assistance to the crew’s families and loved ones.

CMA-CGM said they hoped that the international community would "guarantee the security of ships in this very busy and unavoidable area, where no less than 1000 CMA CGM vessels transit each year".

The statement concluded "the cooperation between the French government and CMA CGM will have served to encourage the United Nations to reflect on the creation of an international force to maintain freedom on the open sea."

The luxury cruise yacht was seized in the Gulf of Aden by pirates from Somalia. The pirates demanded a ransom for the safe return of the mainly French crew but French generals said that marine commandos recovered most of this during a raid on Friday 11th April when six of the pirates were captured. The men will be flown to France and prosecuted, reported French television.