World · Africa · 1 hr ago
Borr Drilling rig sinks off Gabon, leaving five people missing
Borr Drilling's Prospector 5 rig sank off Gabon during preparations for a drilling campaign.
Five of the 115 people on board are unaccounted for, and search-and-rescue efforts are under way.
Borr said preliminary information points to a loss of stability during preload activities, before the rig sank.
The rig was contracted to support BW Energy's drilling operations off Gabon.
Panoro Energy, which holds a 17.5% stake in the field, said production has been halted and there were no reports of damage or accidental discharges.
Borr said its immediate priority is supporting the rescue effort and the welfare of everyone involved.
Borr Drilling’s Prospector 5 rig sank off Gabon on Saturday, October 24, leaving five of the 115 people on board missing.
The company said 110 people had been found safe and search-and-rescue operations were under way.
Borr Drilling said preliminary information indicated a punch-through during preload activities caused the rig to lose stability and sink.
The rig was preparing for a drilling campaign and was contracted to support BW Energy’s drilling operations off Gabon.
Panoro Energy said production had been halted and reported no damage or accidental discharges.
- Who
- Borr Drilling’s Prospector 5 rig and the 115 people on board. Five people are missing and 110 were found safe.
- What
- The rig sank during preparations for a drilling campaign. Search-and-rescue operations are under way.
- When
- The incident occurred at about 8:37 p.m. local time on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
- Where
- Off the coast of Gabon in the Atlantic Ocean.
- Why
- Borr Drilling said preliminary information indicated a punch-through during preload activities caused loss of stability. The precise circumstances have not been confirmed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Prospector 5 sank off Gabon during preparations for a drilling campaign.
Borr Drilling said 110 people had been found safe, five were missing and search-and-rescue efforts were ongoing.
Panoro Energy said production had been halted and reported no damage or accidental discharges.
- Rig
- Prospector 5
- Operator
- Borr Drilling
- People on board
- 115
- Found safe
- 110
- Missing
- 5
- Incident time
- About 8:37 p.m. local time, October 24, 2026
5 sources
Une plate-forme pétrolière fait naufrage dans l'Atlantique avec 115 personnes à bord : d'importantes opérations en cours
'Nous sommes très inquiets': au Gabon, le naufrage d'une plateforme pétrolière fait un mort, quatre personnes portées disparues
Noors boorplatform zinkt voor kust Gabon, vijf opvarenden vermist
Borr Drilling rig sinks off Gabon, five personnel missing
VIDÉO. Grave accident maritime dans l’océan Atlantique : une plateforme pétrolière fait naufrage avec 115 personnes à bord, cinq sont portées disparues
What people are saying
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
Preliminary information indicates that the rig experienced a punch-through event during preload activities, resulting in loss of stability and the subsequent sinking of the rig
Posts on X
🚨 #Mayumba : un rig de #BWEnergy en train de couler. Un incident préoccupant qui ravive les inquiétudes sur les risques environnementaux liés aux activités pétrolières. Une catastrophe potentielle aux conséquences graves pour les écosystèmes marins et les communautés locales.