Abraham Olalekan : Tug Accused of Caribbean Oil Spill Arrested in Angola for Separate Charges

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Caribbean oil spill arrest
2. Tugboat Angola charges

Nearly four months after Tobago suffered one of its worst environmental disasters, the vessel alleged to have been involved has been tracked down thousands of kilometres away in another continent and arrested on separate charges. On the morning of February 7, local authorities detected an oil slick spewing from a capsized vessel off the west coast of Tobago. The slick quickly hit the southwest shoreline of the Caribbean island with a national emergency declared. The tug and the barge involved were eventually identified as the Solo Creed and the Gulfstream, both having a history of towing Venezuelan oil. The barge’s final, fateful voyage saw it take some 35,000 barrels of oil on a voyage that was meant to end in Guyana, but along the way, the barge ran into difficulties. After the 48-year-old barge capsized off the coast of Tobago, the oil slick spread hundreds of kilometres west and reached the east coast of the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire and later Aruba and Grenada. In total, the oil spill clean-up is estimated to have cost $23.5m so far. In an exclusive investigation by the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian and Bellingcat, a Dutch journalism group, the Solo Creed has now been found. It turns out that the tug was arrested on May 11 in Angola for an unauthorised breach of the African nation’s claimed offshore oil security perimeter of oil extraction blocks 17 and 18. The vessel is currently at anchor in Luanda Bay. Stuart Young, Trinidad & Tobago’s energy minister, has got in touch with counterparts in Angola, and is assessing the new information that has come to light. Both the tug and the barge had no insurance when they ran into difficulty in February, with their ownership also shrouded in mystery to begin with. It has since emerged that Abraham Olalekan of Nigeria was the owner of the tug and barge.

Discovery of the Vessel

It has been nearly four months since Tobago was struck by a devastating environmental disaster that left the pristine coastline covered in oil. The incident occurred on the morning of February 7, when authorities detected an oil slick emanating from a capsized vessel off the west coast of Tobago. The slick quickly made its way to the southwest shoreline of the Caribbean island, prompting a national emergency to be declared.

Identification of the Vessel

After thorough investigation, the vessel responsible for the oil spill was identified as the Solo Creed and the Gulfstream. Both vessels had a history of towing Venezuelan oil, and the ill-fated voyage that led to the disaster was meant to transport 35,000 barrels of oil to Guyana. However, the barge encountered difficulties along the way, ultimately resulting in its capsizing off the coast of Tobago.

Extent of the Oil Spill

The repercussions of the oil spill were felt far beyond Tobago, as the 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 alone have already cost a staggering $23.5 million, highlighting the magnitude of the environmental impact caused by the incident.

Arrest of the Vessel

In a shocking turn of events, the Solo Creed has now been located thousands of kilometres away in Angola, where it was arrested on May 11 for breaching the African nation’s offshore oil security perimeter. The vessel is currently anchored in Luanda Bay, awaiting further legal proceedings.

Ownership and Insurance

It has come to light that the tug and barge were operating without insurance at the time of the incident, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. The ownership of the vessels was initially shrouded in mystery, but it has since been revealed that Abraham Olalekan of Nigeria was the owner of both the tug and the barge.

Stuart Young, Trinidad & Tobago’s energy minister, has been in communication with authorities in Angola to address the new developments surrounding the Solo Creed. The investigation into the circumstances leading to the environmental disaster continues, as authorities work to hold those responsible for the oil spill accountable for their actions.

As the story of the Solo Creed and the Gulfstream unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of maritime incidents and the importance of stringent regulations to prevent future disasters of this nature.