Tobago Oil Slick Approaches Bonaire: International Concern Mounts Over Gulfstream Spill

Scarborough, Tobago – February 27, 2024 – Recent reports from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) highlight the alarming spread of an oil slick from the overturned Gulfstream vessel, with a portion of it now reaching up to Bonaire, situated 50 miles (80km) north of the Venezuelan coast. Concerns are mounting in Bonaire as authorities brace for potential environmental repercussions on its vital mangrove, fish, and coral ecosystems.

The vessel, which became stuck on a reef near Cove Estate in Tobago, has been continuously leaking bunker fuel since its discovery on February 7th, 2024. Investigative efforts by Bellingcat revealed that the leakage began as early as February 3rd, with satellite images capturing the vessel being towed by the Solo Creed tugboat after departing Pozuelos Bay, a Venezuelan port linked to the state-owned PDVSA oil company. The Solo Creed’s last known location on February 4th near Aruba raises significant questions about its current status.

The exact circumstances surrounding the Gulfstream’s capsizing and subsequent drift to Tobago’s coast remain unclear, with the vessel owners reportedly evading authorities. While the vessels were expected to reach Guyana by February 6th, their disappearance has sparked investigations by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to locate the responsible parties for accountability in this escalating environmental crisis. The widening reach of the Tobago oil spill underscores its regional impact.