Kaalbye Shipping International Vindicated by Washington Post Correction to September 2013 Report that Inaccurately Accused the Shipping Company of Transporting Cargo to Syria and Disabling a Ship's Transponder Equipment

ODESSA, Ukraine, Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kaalbye Shipping International was vindicated by a rare Washington Post correction to a September 2013 story that inaccurately linked Kaalbye to shipping cargo to Syria.  In the February 6, 2014 correction, the Washington Post admitted it "incorrectly described details about the operation of a Ukrainian cargo vessel highlighted in a feature about military aid to Syria."  Corrections to the feature story include the Washington Post stating that Kaalbye did not disengage the transponder system during the Ocean Fortune's 2013 voyage through the eastern Mediterranean Sea and that the Kaalbye-operated ship "made no stops at Syrian ports during the journey."  Furthermore, the Washington Post corrected inaccurate reporting that Kaalbye's automated transponder system was non-functional during a 2012 voyage to Venezuela and wrote the article "incorrectly stated that Ukrainian ship owner Vadim Alperin is a Kaalbye business partner."

Boris Kogan, founder of Kaalbye Shipping International, stated: "Kaalbye's name was unnecessarily besmirched and business relationships were damaged by the inaccurate reporting in the September 2013 Washington Post story. While we are pleased that editors at the Washington Post have corrected the inaccuracies in the original report, relationships with clients and banks were irrevocably harmed.  In the future, I encourage any reporter to more carefully research a story when it can damage the sterling reputations of a company and its executives.  It is hoped that all media outlets that reported on the inaccuracies of the original Washington Post feature will also post the correction that vindicates Kaalbye of serious allegations."  

The Washington Post's 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."

Though not addressed in the Washington Post's correction, the inaccurate assertions in the original story were based largely on false claims made in a report from C4ADS, a Washington-based think tank.  C4ADS has not issued any correction to date.

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