Borr Drilling’s Prospector 5 rig sank at about 9:40 p.m. on Saturday in the Dussafu Marin permit area off Mayumba, Gabon, killing one worker, an Indian national, and leaving four people missing, three Gabonese nationals and one other expatriate, among the 115 people on board, Reuters reported. Borr Drilling said preliminary information indicated the rig experienced a punch-through event during preload activities, losing stability and sinking, and Gabon’s petroleum ministry said it had activated a crisis unit, ordered the navy to reinforce search and rescue at sea and ordered a technical investigation. The rig was contracted to support BW Energy’s drilling operations and had not yet begun drilling, Panoro Energy, which holds 17.5 percent of the licence against BW Energy’s 73.5 percent, said production had been halted with no reports of damage or accidental discharges, and the ministry said no discharge of harmful substances had been observed.
Borr drilling rig sinks off Gabon, one dead and four missing
Borr Drilling's Prospector 5 rig sank late on Saturday off Mayumba, Gabon, killing one worker and leaving four missing among the 115 people on board, after what the company called a punch-through event during preload activities.
Why it matters: The rig was working for BW Energy on the Dussafu Marin licence and had not yet begun drilling, and partner Panoro Energy said production at the permit has been halted while search and rescue and a technical investigation continue.
Data as of Reuters report of October 25, 2026, via gCaptain, read in full. The casualty figures, the punch-through account and the rescue and investigation steps are statements by Borr Drilling, Gabon's Ministry of Petroleum and Gas and the National Organization of Petroleum Employees as reported by Reuters. Developing item.
Sources
- Borr Drilling Rig Sinks Off Gabon, One Person Dead And Four Missing - Reuters, via gCaptain - 2026-10-25