wo Americans kidnapped from ship off Nigeria released

ABUJA (Reuters) - Two Americans who were
kidnapped from their ship by pirates off the
coast of Nigeria last month have been released,
the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.
The captain and chief engineer were taken on
October 23 when gunmen attacked the U.S.-
flagged C-Retriever, a 222-foot (67 meter)
vessel owned by U.S. marine transport group
Edison Chouest Offshore.
"We welcome the release of the two U.S.
citizens who were kidnapped from the M/V C-
Retriever. For privacy reasons, we will not
provide any additional information," a State
Department official said in a statement.
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 White House said last month it was
increasingly concerned about the rise in piracy
off West Africa.
Unlike the waters off Somalia on the east coast
of Africa, through which ships now speed with
armed guards on board, many vessels have to
anchor to do business off West African
countries with little protection.
This makes them targets for criminals and
raises insurance costs. Kidnapped sailors and
oil workers taken in Nigerian waters are usually
released after a ransom is paid.
"It is the policy of the United States not to pay
ransom or encourage the payment of ransom
money," the State Department statement said.