At Sea with Doug Newman

The 30 crew of Compagnie des Iles du Ponant’s Le Ponant, hijacked a week ago by Somali pirates, has been freed, and six of the pirates captured according to this report from AFP. No military intervention was involved. A $2 million ransom was paid, part of which was recovered when the pirates were arrested.

There is no immediate news on the status of Le Ponant herself.

CMA-CGM, CIP’s parent company, also released this statement thanking President Nicholas Sarkozy, his Ministers, and the French Armed Forces, and stated that wishes, “tomorrow that Europe can ensure the security of the ships in this zone.”