Editing Operation Megaphone (section)

==Background==

At the conclusion of [[Operation Kinetic (1999)|Operation Kinetic]], the Canadian contribution to a [[NATO]] peacekeeping force in Kosovo and [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], the [[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of National Defence]] contracted [[SDV Logistics Canada Ltd]] to transport military assets, including 580 vehicles, 390 sea containers of equipment and three Canadian soldiers who were escorting the cargo.<ref name=cefcom/>

SDV Logistics subcontracted [[Andromeda Navigation Co.]] of Montreal, which chartered a [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|St Vincent]]-flagged ship, GTS ''Katie''  (owned by Annapolis, Maryland-based Third Ocean Marine Navigation Company), 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.<ref name=ind>{{cite news |title=Canadian navy boards ship carrying military supplies |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canadian-navy-boards-ship-carrying-military-supplies-711281.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canadian-navy-boards-ship-carrying-military-supplies-711281.html |archive-date=2022-05-24 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London |date=4 August 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2010}}</ref>

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.<ref name=cbc2>{{cite web |title=Katie was arrested before |work=CBC News |date=28 August 2000 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/katie-was-arrested-before-1.210194 | access-date=29 December 2010 }}</ref>

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 ''Katie'', [[Vitaly Khlebnikov]], not to enter Canadian waters.