Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago reported the arrest of the tug involved in February’s oil spill during the towing operations of a barge by the tug. The arrest comes as a response to the oil spill of Tobago, with the government of Trinidad and Tobago mentioning that the claim of more than $244m will compensate for the damage.
The announcement came from the ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) which stated that pursuant to proceedings filed by the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the Republic of Angola the tug has been ordered by the court to be arrested to secure the claim of Trinidad and Tobago.
The arrest was ordered by the court to allow the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to protect the fruits of its claim, MEEI said, to recover a sum in excess of $244m.
“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.”
However, the authority made it clear that this sum is a preliminary figure at this stage since the full costs of this spill continues to be tabulated.
The authority accuses the tug for “substantial damage to livelihood of persons and the environment of Tobago caused by the oil spill in February 2024.”
As it is stated, the tug was ordered to be arrested in Luanda, Angola and will not be allowed to leave that jurisdiction unless security is lodged to secure the interest of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
“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,” Trinidad and Tobago’s ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) said in a release on Thursday.
Additionally, the ministry 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.
