Two American Kidnapped by Pirates off Nigeria’s Coast

C-Retriever via Christian/Shipspotting

Shipping news site gCaptain is reporting that the C-Retriever, an oil supply ship flying the United States flag, was attacked by pirates off the coast of Nigeria yesterday morning. The ship is owned by Edison Chouest.

According to NBC, two American citizens, serving as the captain and the chief engineer were abducted. U.S. officials are currently expecting a request for ransom though none have arrived.

The closest military contingent is a contingent of U.S. Marines aboard a Dutch warship.

News of this event comes just after the release of the film Captain Phillips starring Tom Hanks. The movie shows a dramatized version of a real 2009 event in which Navy SEAL snipers killed three Somali pirates after they abducted Captain Richard Phillips from a U.S. cargo ship.