By Trend News Line 2024-05-27 07:46:02.
The Tragic Incident in Tobago
It was a calm morning on February 7 when the residents of Tobago were met with a devastating sight – an oil slick spewing from a capsized vessel off the west coast of the island. The slick quickly made its way to the southwest shoreline, resulting in a national emergency being declared. The vessel in question was later identified as the Solo Creed, a tug with a history of towing Venezuelan oil, and the Gulfstream, a barge carrying 35,000 barrels of oil on its ill-fated journey to Guyana.
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The Aftermath and Cost of the Oil Spill
Following the capsizing of the 48-year-old barge, the oil slick spread hundreds of kilometres west, reaching the east coast of the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire, as well as Aruba and Grenada. The clean-up efforts have been estimated to cost a staggering $23.5 million so far, highlighting the extensive damage caused by the environmental disaster.
The Investigation and Arrest of the Solo Creed
An exclusive investigation by the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian and Dutch journalism group Bellingcat has revealed that the Solo Creed has been located. The tug was arrested on May 11 in Angola for breaching the African nation’s claimed offshore oil security perimeter. The vessel is currently at anchor in Luanda Bay, raising questions about the involvement of the tug in multiple incidents.
The Owner of the Tug and Barge
As the investigation delved deeper into the ownership of the vessels, it was discovered that Abraham Olalekan of Nigeria was the owner of both the Solo Creed and the Gulfstream. The lack of insurance and mysterious ownership of the vessels have only added to the complexity of the situation, leaving authorities with more questions than answers.
Minister Stuart Young’s Response
Stuart Young, Trinidad & Tobago’s energy minister, has been actively involved in assessing the new information that has come to light regarding the Solo Creed and the Gulfstream. He has reached out to counterparts in Angola to discuss the arrest of the tug and the implications of its involvement in the oil spill off the coast of Tobago.
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As the investigation continues and more details emerge, the full extent of the damage caused by the environmental disaster in Tobago is slowly being uncovered. The arrest of the Solo Creed in Angola has opened up a new chapter in this ongoing saga, shedding light on the complex web of events that led to one of the worst environmental disasters in Tobago’s history.
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Tug accused of massive Caribbean oil spill
February’s massive Caribbean oil spill.
