To describe this stonewalling as frustrating would be an understatement. Getting the runaround is an occupational hazard in journalism, but I have found in my years of investigative reporting that there is usually someone in a position of authority who is willing to help twist arms to get the kind of information I was seeking. Concerns about reputational damage can also motivate companies or governments to make at least a minimal effort to respond to a reporter. Not so in the maritime world, where all the actors seem to set their own ethical and moral compasses in different directions.
