Borr Drilling’s Prospector 5 jackup drilling rig sank late on Saturday, October 24, 2026, off the coast of Mayumba, Gabon, during jacking and preload operations. Of the 115 personnel on board, 110 have been safely accounted for.

A Reuters report from October 25 said that the “Prospector 5 rig sank late on Saturday off the coast of Mayumba, Gabon, killing one ​employee and leaving four others missing among the 115 people on board, ‌three sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday. An Indian national, one of the five initially unaccounted for, has been found dead. The remaining four missing include three Gabonese nationals and one other expatriate, the sources ​said.”

An October 26 statement from Borr Drilling reported this as incorrect, stating that five personnel remain unaccounted for, with no fatalities confirmed.

The statement further added that: "Borr Drilling’s onshore emergency response team continues to work with local authorities and our customer, to respond to the incident, support those affected and to continue to search for missing personnel. Extensive marine and air search and rescue operations remain ongoing." 

The incident occurred in the Dussafu Marin permit area near the MaBoMo (also referred to as Mabomont) production facility. 

Preliminary information from Borr Drilling indicates that the rig experienced a punch-through event—one of its legs unexpectedly penetrated the seabed—during preload activities. This led to a loss of stability and the subsequent sinking of the rig. 

The Prospector 5 had not yet begun drilling and was preparing for a planned campaign supporting BW Energy’s operations. 

Borr Drilling, the owner and operator of the rig (contracted to BW Energy), activated its onshore emergency response team and is coordinating with local authorities, the Gabonese navy, and BW Energy on search and rescue efforts. 

In a statement, Borr Drilling CEO Bruno Morand said: “We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident. Our immediate priority is supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved.” 

Gabon’s Ministry of Petroleum and Gas has activated a crisis unit involving 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. The accident took place around 21:40 local time per ministry details.

BW Energy confirmed the incident and stated that production at the MaBoMo offshore facility was shut down under standard procedures for drilling preparations. There were no reports of damage to the facility or related equipment, nor any accidental discharge of harmful substances into the sea. Panoro Energy, which holds a 17.5% stake in the Dussafu licence (BW Energy holds 73.5%), also noted the production halt and lack of reported damage or discharges.

Search and rescue operations continue. This is a developing situation; official casualty figures and the full cause of the incident remain subject to ongoing investigation and updates from authorities and the companies involved.

In March 2024, a fire at a separate Perenco oil platform offshore Gabon killed five people.