Gulfstream oil spill (Tobago)
In February 2024 a barge with no recorded flag or insurer released about 4,652 tonnes of fuel oil off Tobago, and the oil reached Bonaire, 830 km away. The registered owner had not been identified, and the IOPC 1992 Fund paid the claims.
Reached Bonaire, 830 km away. Figure from the IOPC Funds.
Status As of May 2026 (IOPC document IOPC/MAY26/3/5): the 1992 Fund was paying claims (TTD 60.57 million by 6 March 2026), the registered owner had not been identified, and no limitation proceedings had been started.
- Contributors to the 1992 Fund (companies receiving oil in member states) — A £10 million levy for Gulfstream fell due on 1 March 2025. IOPC Funds
- Claimants affected by the spill — 357 claims, US$48.5 million; TTD 60.57 million paid by 6 March 2026. IOPC Funds
What happened
On 5–6 February 2024 the barge Gulfstream released about 4,652 tonnes of fuel oil off Tobago, according to the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds). The oil reached Bonaire, 830 km away.
The 1992 Fund's records list the vessel's flag as "Unknown" and its P&I insurer as "None". The IOPC Funds Director said the barge appeared to have no insurance and was in poor condition. The registered owner had not been identified. The tug Solo Creed, which towed the barge, escaped arrest in Angola in November 2024.
The owner's limit under the civil liability convention (CLC) was estimated at SDR 4.51 million, but no limitation proceedings had been started because the registered owner "is yet to be identified". The 1992 Fund, which pays when the shipowner's cover is insufficient, paid claims without the shipowner tier.
The Fund recorded 357 claims and US$48.5 million, and TTD 60.57 million paid by 6 March 2026 (document IOPC/MAY26/3/5). Payments were made first through the General Fund, with the Gulfstream Major Claims Fund account at −£5.76 million at the end of 2024 before its first levy, and then covered by a £10 million levy on oil receivers due on 1 March 2025. The Fund does not collect money before incidents: its FAQ says it invoices only when incidents occur or circumstances require it.
At 31 December 2024 the 1992 Fund held net assets of £56.4 million against a per-incident maximum of SDR 203 million, about £211 million. The Supplementary Fund held £1.4 million against a maximum of about £780 million and had not been used in any incident. The General Fund balance of £13.5 million was below the £15 million working capital because of unforeseen expenditure on Gulfstream and Marine Honour. Under the 1992 conventions, compensation for environmental impairment is limited to the costs of reasonable reinstatement measures actually undertaken or to be undertaken; claims based on theoretical models, punitive claims and loss of environmental services are not admissible.
- 20245–6 February: about 4,652 t of fuel oil spilled off Tobago; November: tug Solo Creed escapes arrest in Angola; end of year: Gulfstream account at −£5.76m
- 20251 March: £10m levy for Gulfstream falls due
- 2026By 6 March: TTD 60.57m paid; IOPC document IOPC/MAY26/3/5 records the registered owner as yet to be identified
What was said
“appears to have no insurance, was in poor condition”
“is yet to be identified”
“due to unforeseen expenditure on… Gulfstream and Marine Honour”
“only invoices when incidents occur or circumstances require it”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Paid claims without the shipowner tier; estimated the owner's CLC limit at SDR 4.51 million but had not started limitation proceedings because the registered owner is yet to be identified.
IOPC FundsNo statement on record; the owner has not been identified.
No statement on record; the tug escaped arrest in Angola in November 2024.
IOPC FundsHow it looked
Shown
Recorded
- Flag recorded as "Unknown"; P&I insurer recorded as "None".
- The owner's CLC limit was estimated at SDR 4.51 million; no limitation proceedings had been started.
- 357 claims and US$48.5 million; TTD 60.57 million paid by 6 March 2026.
- The tug Solo Creed escaped arrest in Angola in November 2024.
- The Gulfstream account (MCF) stood at −£5.76 million at the end of 2024; the Marine Honour account at −£5.44 million. Gulfstream was levied £10 million, due 1 March 2025.
- The 1992 Fund levies oil receivers after an incident; the Gulfstream levy was £10 million, due 1 March 2025.
- The General Fund covers claims up to SDR 4 million per incident; amounts above that fall to a Major Claims Fund levied after the incident on oil received in the year before it.
- General Fund balance of £13.5 million, below the £15 million working capital because of unforeseen expenditure on Gulfstream and Marine Honour.
- 1992 Fund at 31 December 2024: net assets £56.4m; cash plus term deposits £72.9m; contingent liabilities about £141m across 13 incidents.
- Supplementary Fund: £1.4m held; maximum payout about £780m; not used in any incident to date.
- Under the 1992 conventions, compensation for environmental impairment is limited to the costs of reasonable reinstatement measures actually undertaken or to be undertaken; claims based on theoretical models, punitive claims and loss of environmental services are not admissible.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- iopc-funds (May 2026): Said the barge "appears to have no insurance, was in poor condition" and that the registered owner "is yet to be identified". · IOPC Funds
- Registered owner (not identified) (2024–2026): No statement on record; no owner or insurer has been identified. · IOPC Funds
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2024–Ongoing$48.5m Claims recorded, 357 claims (US$ million); the record does not state consistently whether this is claimed or paidClaims against the 1992 Fund for the Gulfstream spillInternational Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (1992 Fund) · International court · Claimants (357 claims) → 1992 Fund; registered owner not identified
The Fund recorded 357 claims and TTD 60.57 million paid by 6 March 2026. It paid first through the General Fund and then raised a £10 million levy due 1 March 2025. IOPC Funds
- No defendant leftSDR 4.51m Estimated CLC limit of the owner (SDR million)Limitation of the owner's liabilityNo proceedings started · Civil · Claimants and the 1992 Fund → Registered owner (not identified)
No limitation proceedings had been started because the registered owner "is yet to be identified". IOPC Funds
Insurers
- 2024UninsuredNone recorded → Barge Gulfstream (registered owner not identified)Stated reason: P&I insurer recorded as "None"; the Director stated the barge "appears to have no insurance".
No insurer is recorded for the barge. The 1992 Fund paid claims without the shipowner tier. IOPC Funds
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Accounts
- Disputed Who is liable for the damage?
- None on record Registered owner (not identified): No statement on record; the owner has not been identified.
- None on record Operator of the tug Solo Creed: No statement on record; the tug escaped arrest in Angola in November 2024.
Record
- None on record The identity of the registered owner: not identified, so no limitation proceedings had been started.
- Unclear Whether US$48.5 million is the amount claimed or the amount paid: the record gives it both as the figure for 357 claims and under "paid so far", and separately gives TTD 60.57 million as paid by 6 March 2026.
- Unclear The vessel's flag and insurer: recorded as "Unknown" and "None".
- None on record Which contributing companies paid the Gulfstream levy: the IOPC Funds publish no ranked list of contributing companies.
Did the harm stop?
Not recorded. Claims were still being paid in March 2026, and the registered owner had not been identified.
Who paid?
The IOPC 1992 Fund, which is financed by levies on oil receivers in its member states, paid the claims; the Gulfstream levy was £10 million. No shipowner or insurer payment is on record.
Sources
International bodies
- IOPC/MAY26/3/5 (Gulfstream incident)IOPC Funds · 2026-05
- Contributions to the IOPC Funds 2025IOPC Funds · 2025-12
- 1992 Fund Financial Review 2024IOPC Funds · 2026-01
- Frequently asked questions: oil reporting and contributionsIOPC Funds · n.d.
- Texts of Conventions (1992 Fund Convention, Art. 12)IOPC Funds · 2025-11
- Claims for environmental damage: An overviewIOPC Funds · 2019
Connected cases
- Amoco Cadiz oil spill (France) France · 1978–1992
- International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) (International organisation) — here: Compensation body paying claims for the Gulfstream spill (1992 Fund); there: International oil pollution compensation funds (Erika, Sea Empress and Tasman Spirit are in the same heading)
- Erika oil spill France · 1999–2012
- International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) (International organisation) — here: Compensation body paying claims for the Gulfstream spill (1992 Fund); there: International compensation fund (1992 Fund)
- Hebei Spirit oil spill South Korea · 2007
- International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) (International organisation) — here: Compensation body paying claims for the Gulfstream spill (1992 Fund); there: Administers the 1992 Fund; paid KRW 134.8bn within the KRW 321.6bn limit
- Liberian-flagged vessel Sea Empress spills oil at Milford Haven, Wales, in 1996 United Kingdom · 1996
- International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) (International organisation) — here: Compensation body paying claims for the Gulfstream spill (1992 Fund); there: published the compensation table
- Prestige Spain · 2002–2026
- International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) (International organisation) — here: Compensation body paying claims for the Gulfstream spill (1992 Fund); there: 1992 Fund; paid €147.9m
- Princess Empress oil spill (Philippines) Philippines · 2023–2025
- International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) (International organisation) — here: Compensation body paying claims for the Gulfstream spill (1992 Fund); there: 1992 Fund; paid claims together with the Shipowners' Club
- Tasman Spirit oil spill (Pakistan) Pakistan · 2003–2004
- International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) (International organisation) — here: Compensation body paying claims for the Gulfstream spill (1992 Fund); there: International compensation regime; Pakistan not a member
- Torrey Canyon spill and creation of the IOPC Funds United Kingdom · 1967–2026
- International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) (International organisation) — here: Compensation body paying claims for the Gulfstream spill (1992 Fund); there: Administers the 1992 Fund and Supplementary Fund; pays claims above the shipowner's limit