Gulfstream – Information for claimants

The Incident

In early February 2024, the articulated tank barge Gulfstream (IMO Number 1518444, 4 925 GRT, built in 1974), towed by the tug Solo Creed (IMO Number 7505994, 538 GRT, built in 1976), capsized and sank, and began to spill oil approximately 16 km off Tobago, before coming to rest 150 to 200 metres offshore of Canoe Bay, on the southernmost tip of Tobago.

To view the full incident case study please click here.

Compensation and Claims Management

The IOPC Funds pay compensation to those who have suffered oil pollution damage in a Member State who cannot obtain full compensation for the pollution damage from the shipowner. Claimants may be individuals, partnerships, companies, private organisations or public bodies, including States or local authorities.

Who can claim?

Admissibility of claims for compensation

To be entitled to compensation the pollution damage must have resulted in an actual and quantifiable economic loss. The claimant must be able to show the amount of their loss or damage by producing accounting records or other appropriate evidence.

For this incident, specific claim forms for each of the following types of claim can be downloaded below:

• Property damage
• Costs of clean-up operations
• Economic losses – Fisheries, maricultural and processing sector 
• Environmental damage 
• Economic losses -Tourism 

Claims are assessed according to criteria established by the governments of Member States. These criteria are set out in the 1992 Fund’s Claims Manual, which is a practical guide on how to present claims for compensation.  Sector-specific guidelines for claimants are also available in English, French and Spanish via the publications section.

Contact information for claimants

To facilitate the claims process in this incident, the IOPC Funds has established an IOPC Funds focal point office in Trinidad, to which claims may be submitted. Any correspondence or questions, should be addressed to the Focal Point below.

Gulfstream  Focal Point Office c/o
Teal P and I Marine Services Limited
4 Warren Street
Port of Spain, Trinidad
Tel: + 1 868 632 0506

gulfstream@iopcfundsclaims.org

How to submit a claim

Claims should be submitted either directly to the IOPC Funds in London or through the focal point at the address above.

Claimants should submit their claims in writing (including e-mail) using the specific claim forms which have been provided to the focal point and which may be requested from the office.  Claims should provide sufficient information and supporting documentation to enable the damage to be assessed. Each item of a claim must be substantiated by invoices or other relevant documentation, such as work sheets, explanatory notes, accounts and photographs. It is the responsibility of claimants to submit evidence to support their claims. It is important that the documentation is complete and accurate.  A brief step by step guide in English can be found here.

 When to submit a claim

Claims should be submitted as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than three years from the date when the damage occurred.

Further information

For further information please contact the IOPC Funds directly.