The Karitan was a Cardassian vessel.
In 2371, the commander of the Karitan contacted Gul Dukat with reconnaissance of the large colony ship that had destroyed the Vendikar. Dukat ordered the commander to continue to monitor the vessel but to take no offensive action, which irked the commander. Dukat reminded him that the vessel would soon enter Bajoran space in the Darane system and no longer be a Cardassian problem. (DS9 novel: Objective: Bajor)