Kaalbye Shipping International Urges Further Corrections to Inaccurate Reports that Falsely Accuse the Shipping Company of Transporting Cargo to Syria and Disabling Ship Transponder Equipment

ODESSA, Ukraine, March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kaalbye Shipping International has called upon media outlets and other organizations to correct any inaccurate reports that falsely link the shipping company to serious accusations including shipping cargo to Syria and disengaging ship transponder systems.  Kaalbye had previously been vindicated by a February 6, 2014 Washington Post correction, which stated the publication "incorrectly described details about the operation of a Ukrainian cargo vessel highlighted in a feature about military aid to Syria." 

The inaccurate assertions in the original September 2013 Washington Post story were based largely on false claims made in a report from C4ADS, a Washington-based think tank.  Despite the Washington Post correction, C4ADS has not issued any correction to date.  The original C4ADS report falsely alleged that Kaalbye disengaged the transponder system during the Ocean Fortune's 2013 voyage through the eastern Mediterranean Sea and that the Kaalbye-operated ship made stops at Syrian ports during the journey.  In addition, C4ADS inaccurately reported that Kaalbye's transponder system was non-functional during a 2012 voyage to Venezuela and incorrectly wrote that Ukrainian Vadim Alperin is a Kaalbye business partner.  The Washington Post, reporting from this inaccurate C4ADS analysis, re-reported this incorrect information in the original September 2013 story, but issued a rare correction admitting the reporting was not accurate.  Unfortunately, other publications have not corrected their inaccurate reporting which has unnecessarily besmirched Kalbye's name and damaged business relationships.

Boris Kogan, founder of Kaalbye Shipping International, stated: "Despite Kaalbye's reputation for reliability, safety, and trustworthiness, the reputation of the company continues to be damaged because of inaccurate reporting.  Kaalbye has demonstrated its commitment to full compliance with international maritime laws and earned the trust of the U.S. government through contracts for shipping NASA rockets and U.S. Navy ships.  It is highly regrettable then, that Kaalbye's reputation and business relationships have been threatened by inaccurate and unsubstantiated reporting.  I urge all other media outlets and organizations that have misreported on Kaalbye's safety record and adherence to international laws to follow the lead of the Washington Post, and retract or correct your inaccurate reporting immediately."  

The full text of the Washington Post's February 6, 2014 correction reads:

"Previous versions of this article, including in the Sept. 8, 2013 print edition of The Washington Post, incorrectly described details about the operation of a Ukrainian cargo vessel highlighted in a feature about military aid to Syria. Information supplied by the manager of the Ocean Fortune — and subsequently verified by The Washington Post through independent sources — confirms that the ship's automated transponder was functioning normally as it traveled through the eastern Mediterranean during an extended voyage in early 2013. An analysis of third-party data indicates that the ship, managed by Kaalbye Shipping International Ltd., made no stops at Syrian ports during the journey. The Post also confirmed through third-party data that automated transponders on Kaalbye vessels were functioning normally when they traveled to and from Venezuela in 2012. In addition, the article incorrectly stated that Ukrainian ship owner Vadim Alperin is a Kaalbye business partner."

About Kaalbye Shipping International
Kaalbye Shipping is an experienced shipping group that complies with international and applicable national laws, regulations, and safety policies.  It has an excellent reputation for reliability and professionalism.   That reputation has earned the trust of the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command, which under Kaalbye's management transferred a mine countermeasures ship to Japan in 2009 and a coastal security craft to Cyprus in 2012.  Kaalbye also repeatedly participated in the transfer of items involved into the Sea Launch System through the charterers Energia Logistics Ltd.   In addition, Kaalbye, on an on-going basis, has transferred NASA rockets for Orbital Sciences Corporation; loading of such rockets was carried out under supervision of American representatives in the Oktyabrsk port.

The vessels of Kaalbye's shipping fleet and their specifications are displayed on Kaalbye's website (http://www.kaalbye-group.com/fleet.html). 

For more information, please visit: http://www.kaalbye-group.com.

For more information: Darren Spinck, Global Strategic Communications Group (202-669-4418/[email protected])

SOURCE Kaalbye Shipping International