What happened
Borr Drilling's Prospector 5 jackup drilling rig sank late on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, off the coast of Mayumba in southern Gabon, according to Offshore Magazine. The rig was carrying out jacking and preload operations at the time. Gabon's Ministry of Petroleum and Gas put the accident at about 21:40 local time.
The rig was in the Dussafu Marin permit area, near the MaBoMo production facility. It had not begun drilling and was preparing for a planned campaign supporting BW Energy, which contracted the rig. Of the 115 personnel on board, 110 have been accounted for, the magazine reported.
Preliminary information from Borr Drilling points to a punch-through event, in which one of the rig's legs unexpectedly penetrated the seabed during preload activities. That led to a loss of stability and the rig's sinking.
Conflicting accounts of casualties
A Reuters report on Oct. 25 cited three sources familiar with the matter. It said the sinking killed one employee and left four others missing. According to that report, an Indian national was among five people initially unaccounted for and was found dead. The sources said the four still missing were three Gabonese nationals and one other expatriate.
Borr Drilling disputed that account in an Oct. 26 statement. The company called the Reuters report incorrect and said five personnel remain unaccounted for, with no fatalities confirmed. Offshore Magazine said official casualty figures and the full cause remain subject to investigation and updates from authorities and the companies involved.
Search and government response
Borr Drilling activated its onshore emergency response team. It is working with local authorities, the Gabonese navy and BW Energy. In its statement, the company said that "extensive marine and air search and rescue operations remain ongoing."
CEO Bruno Morand said, "We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident." He added that the company's immediate priority is supporting search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved.
Gabon's Ministry of Petroleum and Gas has activated a crisis unit. It includes the ministry, the navy, state oil company Gabon Oil, BW Energy and Borr Drilling. Petroleum and Gas Minister Clotaire Kondja ordered intensified search and rescue at sea and a technical investigation.
Production impact and wider context
BW Energy confirmed the incident. It said production at the MaBoMo offshore facility was shut down under standard procedures for drilling preparations. No damage to the facility or related equipment has been reported, and there were no reports of accidental discharge of harmful substances into the sea.
Panoro Energy holds a 17.5% stake in the Dussafu licence, while BW Energy holds 73.5%. Panoro also noted the production halt and the lack of reported damage or discharges.
Offshore Magazine noted that the sinking follows a March 2024 fire on a separate Perenco oil platform off Gabon, which killed five people. Search and rescue operations continue, and the situation is still developing.
