Thursday, October 24, 2013

NEWS FLASH: U.S.REGISTERED OFFSHORE SERVICE VESSEL BOARDED BY PIRATES

A U.S. REGISTERED OFFSHORE OIL INDUSTRY SERVICE VESSEL OWNED BY A LOUISIANA COMPANY WAS BOARDED BY PIRATES OFF OF NIGERIA WHO TOOK THE CAPTAIN AND CHIEF ENGINEER CAPTIVE

  
Official U.S. Navy Photo

ABUJA/WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Pirates attacked an oil supply vessel off the Nigerian coast and kidnapped the captain and chief engineer, both U.S. citizens, an American defense official and security sources said on Thursday.

Pirate attacks off Nigeria's coast have jumped by a third this year as ships passing through West Africa's Gulf of Guinea, a major commodities route, have come under threat from gangs wanting to snatch cargoes and crews.

The U.S.-flagged, C-Retriever, a 222-foot (67 metre) vessel owned by U.S. marine transport group Edison Chouest Offshore, was attacked early Wednesday, UK-based security firm AKE and two security sources said. The company was not immediately available for comment.


To learn more about the offshore service vessel fleet try the C-RETRIEVER owner's web site: http://www.chouest.com/vessels.html

UPDATE: 11:30 AM CST: INDIRECT CONTACT WITH PIRATES MAY BE ESTABLISHED, NIGERIAN NAVY CONTINUES SEARCH FOR PIRATE STRONG HOLD. 

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