THE Solo Creed tug was arrested in Angola to secure Trinidad and Tobago’s claim for more than $244 million in damage resulting from the February oil spill in Tobago, the Ministry of Energy has said.
The ministry made the statement a day after Finance Minister Colm Imbert, on behalf of Attorney General Reginald Armour, announced the arrest of the Solo Creed during his winding-up of the Appropriation (Financial Year 2025) Bill, 2024, in the Senate on Wednesday.
“The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) is pleased to report to the public that pursuant to proceedings filed by the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the Republic of Angola the tug Solo Creed has been ordered by the Court to be arrested to secure the claim of Trinidad and Tobago,” it stated.
No individual has been reported as arrested in connection with the incident.
The Energy Ministry said the Solo Creed was responsible for “substantial damage to livelihood of persons and the environment of Tobago caused by the oil spill in February 2024 during the towing operations of a barge.
“The arrest proceedings were filed in Angola after a relentless pursuit of the Solo Creed by the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs with the assistance and support of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Maritime Division of the Ministry of Works and Transport,” it stated.
“The arrest was ordered by the Court to allow the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to protect the fruits of its claim to recover a sum in excess of $244,000,000. This sum is a preliminary figure at this stage since the full costs of this spill continues to be tabulated,” the Energy Ministry stated.
The Solo Creed was ordered to be arrested in Luanda, Angola, and consequently will not be allowed to leave that jurisdiction unless security is lodged to secure the interest of this country, according to the Energy Ministry.
“That security will provide protection towards satisfying the claim and compensate for the damage resulting from the oil spill off Tobago during the towing operations of the barge in February,” it stated.
“The Government will continue to pursue all legal proceedings in Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere to ensure that the rights and interests of the people of Trinidad and Tobago are protected and vindicated. We will take all steps to hold the owners and/or persons interested in the vessel accountable for the extensive damage caused to the livelihood of the people and environment of Tobago,” the Energy Ministry stressed.
Gov’t confident
Up to August, nearly 60,000 barrels of fuel (which had spilled from the overturned Gulfstream barge being towed by the Solo Creed) had been removed from the sea and coast, including from the eco-sensitive Cove reef area in Tobago.
The Energy Ministry said it also continues the pursuit of the recovery of the sums of money expended during the clean-up exercise from the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund.
During the Standing Finance Committee in Parliament, Energy Minister Stuart Young expressed confidence that Trinidad and Tobago will recover the majority of the money spent on the Tobago oil spill.
Young said the Government has been successful in its application to United Kingdom-based IOPC.
The IOPC provides financial compensation for oil pollution damage that occurs in member states, resulting from spills of persistent oil from tankers, its website stated.