Canada Takes Commercial Ship, Military Equipment
Armed Canadian sailors seized control of the U.S.-owned ship GTS Katie last week after a high-seas standoff in which hundreds of millions of dollars of Canadian military equipment had effectively been held hostage. The Ukrainian captain of the Katie engaged the ship in violent maneuvers as a Sea King helicopter sought to drop the sailors by cable on deck to take over the vessel in the North Atlantic, the commander of the naval operation reported. But within 50 minutes the Canadians had grabbed full control, with no injuries to sailors or the crew of the ship, which had been embroiled in a bitter commercial dispute between its owner and the Canadian firm that chartered the vessel.
Canadian Navy Takes Control Of U.S. Cargo Ship
Armed Canadian sailors seized control of the U.S.-owned ship GTS Katie on Thursday after a high-seas standoff in which hundreds of millions of dollars of Canadian military equipment had effectively been held hostage. The Ukrainian captain of the Katie reportedly engaged the ship in violent maneuvers as a Sea King helicopter sought to drop the sailors by cable on deck to take over the vessel in the North Atlantic, the commander of the naval operation reported. But within 50 minutes the Canadians had grabbed full control, with no injuries to sailors or the crew of the ship, which had been embroiled in a bitter commercial dispute between its owner and the Canadian firm that chartered the vessel.
V-Adm. Drew Robertson Heads Canadian Navy
Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson assumed command January 17 during a ceremony in Ottawa, replacing Vice-Admiral Bruce MacLean as chief of Maritime staff. The ceremony was presided over by General Rick Hillier, chief of Defense staff. Adm. Robertson has served in the Canadian Forces for 32 years in a variety of key positions, including command of the destroyers Annapolis and Athabaskan. He also led the first Canadian task group during its six-month Operation Apollo anti-terrorism deployment in 2001. Most recently, he was the director general of International Security Policy at National Defense Headquarters. (Source: www.theglobeandmail.com)
