Operation Megaphone
Encyclopedia
Operation Megaphone was the Canadian
naval operation to board an American merchant ship in the Atlantic, in order to recover $223 million worth of military materiel being transported back to Canada at the conclusion of operations in Kosovo
.
, the Canadian contribution to a NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo and Macedonia
, the Department of National Defence
contracted SDV Logistics Canada Ltd to transport military assets, including 580 vehicles and 390 sea containers of equipment.
SDV Logistics subcontracted Andromeda Navigation Co. of Montreal, which chartered a US-owned, St Vincent
-flagged ship, GTS Katie, to move the cargo.
The vessel was scheduled to leave Greece on 27 June 2000 and was to arrive in Canada on 15 July. Three Canadian military personnel were also on board the ship to escort the cargo, which included five armoured vehicles, rifles, ammunition, and communications equipment.
Prior to leaving Greece, three crew members had complained to authorities there, and the ship was restrained. Though it was not clear why the crew members complained, the ship was allowed to sail on 28 June after posting a US$30,000 bond.
During the voyage, a dispute between the various contracting parties arose over payments due, and Third Ocean claimed that $288,000 remained outstanding from Andromeda. As a result of the dispute, Third Ocean ordered the Russian captain of the Katie, Vitaly Khlebnikov, not to enter Canadian waters.
, then the Minister of National Defence.
A diplomatic note was sent to the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, where the ship was registered, who authorized Canadians to board the vessel.
On 30 July, the destroyer HMCS Athabaskan
received orders to close with the Katie about 225 kilometres off Newfoundland, in international waters, and maintain visual contact with her. The following day, the frigate HMCS Montreal
joined Athabaskan.
At 1:45 pm on 3 August, fourteen sailors boarded Katie in a helicopter-borne assault from a Sea King
, led by Captain
Drew Robertson, during which the crew of the Katie offered no resistance. Captain Khlebnikov would later complain the boarding of the ship was "dangerous" and described the boarding as an "attack", although Captain Robertson had observed that the Katie began erratic, evasive manoevering after being warned of the imminent boarding.
Defence Minister Eggleton described the action as "fully within the bounds of international law."
where the armoured and other military vehicles were unloaded.
Third Ocean filed an action in rem against the Canadian government, who owned the freight, on 27 July 2000, in the Federal Court of Canada
, including a warrant for arrest of the freight. The matter was heard on 18 September, after the ship had already been seized by the Canadian navy. The court quashed the warrant and dismissed the action, on the basis of the immunity of the Crown, under the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act.
The Canadian Navy contracted the Katie - and routinely contracts cargo ships - because it has no sea transport capability. The Canadian Forces
have since then acquired four CC-177 Globemaster III strategic airlift cargo aircraft, each capable of carrying a payload of up to 72,000 kgs, which were delivered in 2007. In 2010, shipbuilding was identified as a key procurement priority by the Canadian Forces, outlined in its Canada First Defence Strategy.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
naval operation to board an American merchant ship in the Atlantic, in order to recover $223 million worth of military materiel being transported back to Canada at the conclusion of operations in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
.
Background
At the conclusion of Operation KineticOperation Kinetic
Operation Kinetic was the name given to the deployment of 1,400 Canadian soldiers to Kosovo as part of the overall NATO effort in 1999 to stabilize the region....
, the Canadian contribution to a NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo and Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
contracted SDV Logistics Canada Ltd to transport military assets, including 580 vehicles and 390 sea containers of equipment.
SDV Logistics subcontracted Andromeda Navigation Co. of Montreal, which chartered a US-owned, St Vincent
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Lesser Antilles chain, namely in the southern portion of the Windward Islands, which lie at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean....
-flagged ship, GTS Katie, to move the cargo.
The vessel was scheduled to leave Greece on 27 June 2000 and was to arrive in Canada on 15 July. Three Canadian military personnel were also on board the ship to escort the cargo, which included five armoured vehicles, rifles, ammunition, and communications equipment.
Prior to leaving Greece, three crew members had complained to authorities there, and the ship was restrained. Though it was not clear why the crew members complained, the ship was allowed to sail on 28 June after posting a US$30,000 bond.
During the voyage, a dispute between the various contracting parties arose over payments due, and Third Ocean claimed that $288,000 remained outstanding from Andromeda. As a result of the dispute, Third Ocean ordered the Russian captain of the Katie, Vitaly Khlebnikov, not to enter Canadian waters.
Boarding
Negotiations continued between the Canadian government and the shippers, however an ultimatum was given and the three contractors failed to reach an agreement by a certain deadline, according to Art EggletonArt Eggleton
Arthur "Art" C. Eggleton, PC is a former Canadian Cabinet minister and Mayor of Toronto, and is currently a Senator representing Ontario.-City council:...
, then the Minister of National Defence.
A diplomatic note was sent to the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, where the ship was registered, who authorized Canadians to board the vessel.
On 30 July, the destroyer HMCS Athabaskan
HMCS Athabaskan
Several Canadian naval ships have been named HMCS Athabaskan. , a Tribal class destroyer, commissioned in 1943 and torpedoed in the English Channel on 29 April 1944. , later renumbered , was a Tribal Class destroyer commissioned in 1947....
received orders to close with the Katie about 225 kilometres off Newfoundland, in international waters, and maintain visual contact with her. The following day, the frigate HMCS Montreal
HMCS Montreal
Several Canadian naval units have been named HMCS Montreal. , a River class frigate that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Battle of the Atlantic. In service 1943 to 1945 and scrapped 1947. , a Halifax class frigate commissioned in 1994....
joined Athabaskan.
At 1:45 pm on 3 August, fourteen sailors boarded Katie in a helicopter-borne assault from a Sea King
Sea King
Sea-King , refers to a Viking, pirate chieftain of the early Middle Ages.It may also refer to:-Aviation:* SH-3 Sea King, American, naval helicopter* Westland Sea King, British, licensed version of the SH-3...
, led by Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Drew Robertson, during which the crew of the Katie offered no resistance. Captain Khlebnikov would later complain the boarding of the ship was "dangerous" and described the boarding as an "attack", although Captain Robertson had observed that the Katie began erratic, evasive manoevering after being warned of the imminent boarding.
Defence Minister Eggleton described the action as "fully within the bounds of international law."
Aftermath
The Katie arrived in Becancourt, Quebec, on 6 August under the control of the Canadian boarding party. Some of the cargo, including explosives, were removed at Becancourt, before the ship was brought further up the St Lawrence River to MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
where the armoured and other military vehicles were unloaded.
Third Ocean filed an action in rem against the Canadian government, who owned the freight, on 27 July 2000, in the Federal Court of Canada
Federal Court of Canada
The Federal Court of Canada was a national court of Canada that heard some types of disputes arising under the central government's legislative jurisdiction...
, including a warrant for arrest of the freight. The matter was heard on 18 September, after the ship had already been seized by the Canadian navy. The court quashed the warrant and dismissed the action, on the basis of the immunity of the Crown, under the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act.
The Canadian Navy contracted the Katie - and routinely contracts cargo ships - because it has no sea transport capability. The Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
have since then acquired four CC-177 Globemaster III strategic airlift cargo aircraft, each capable of carrying a payload of up to 72,000 kgs, which were delivered in 2007. In 2010, shipbuilding was identified as a key procurement priority by the Canadian Forces, outlined in its Canada First Defence Strategy.