French luxury yacht line Compagnie des Iles du Ponant has changed its name to Compagnie du Ponant. After twenty years the Marseilles-based line felt it needed to have an easier to remember and understand name for more global recognition. Yes, it’s shorter, but why not name it something people can really remember like Pepe le cruise? (That would have done it for me)

All kidding aside, the company is positioning itself to stress its luxury position given the line’s smaller and truly unique vessels. Compagnie du Ponant’s fleet includes the three-masted sailing ship Le Ponant (64 passengers), the yacht Le Levant (90 passengers) and Le Diamant (220 passengers). Under construction are a pair of 284-passenger luxury yachts, L’Austral and Le Boreal due for delivery in March and July 2010.

The company made news last year when its vessel Le Ponant was seized by Somali pirates. The pirates held the ship and its 30 crewmembers hostage for three weeks –the vessel was released when the company paid $2 million dollar ransom.