Tobago Oil Spill Tug “Solo Creed” Belonged to Panamanian Firm With History of Moving Venezuelan Oil

An investigation by Bellingcat and the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian traces the ownership, movements, and questionable registration activity of the tug Solo Creed and the barge Gulfstream implicated in a major oil spill off Tobago. The report links the vessels to a Panamanian corporate network tied to transporting Venezuelan oil, highlights conflicting ownership claims, AIS tracking gaps, and documents indicating the barge’s poor condition before its voyage. It also examines purported connections to Guyanese entities and procurement processes, while satellite imagery, videos, and court records support a timeline showing the barge capsized near Venezuela before oil spread across the Caribbean.