The Prospector 5 jack-up drilling rig, owned and operated by Borr Drilling, sank off the coast of Gabon on the evening of October 24, 2026.
The incident occurred at around 20:37 local time on the Dussafu Marine licence, where the rig was preparing to begin a new drilling campaign for BW Energy.
There were 115 people on board at the time of the incident.
According to the latest official information, 110 people are safe, while five remain missing.
Search and rescue operations are continuing with the involvement of Borr Drilling, BW Energy, local authorities and emergency response teams.
According to preliminary information from Borr Drilling, the accident happened during operations to position the rig for drilling.
During preload operations, the rig is believed to have experienced a punch-through event.
Punch-through is a serious jack-up rig hazard in which one of the rig’s legs suddenly penetrates deeper into the seabed after the soil beneath it loses bearing capacity.
As a result, Prospector 5 lost stability, developed a severe list and subsequently sank.
The exact circumstances of the incident remain under investigation, meaning the punch-through scenario is still considered preliminary rather than a final conclusion.
Prospector 5 was due to work as part of BW Energy’s drilling programme on the Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon.
BW Energy said production at the MaBoMo facility was shut down in line with standard safety procedures during preparations for drilling and following the incident.
The company also confirmed that the MaBoMo production facility and associated equipment were not damaged.
BW Energy said no accidental release of harmful substances from the MaBoMo facility had been recorded.
However, the company has not separately confirmed that there was no pollution from the sunken Prospector 5 itself, meaning the environmental impact of the rig casualty may still require further assessment.
Local reports from Gabon said the rig developed a significant list after a problem involving one of its legs.
Images and eyewitness accounts from the scene have also circulated on social media.
Prospector 5 is a self-elevating jack-up drilling rig.
Jack-up rigs operate on long legs that are lowered to the seabed before the hull is raised above the water to create a stable working platform.
Before drilling begins, a preload operation is carried out to apply controlled weight to the rig’s legs and the seabed, testing whether the foundation can safely support the unit.
According to the preliminary findings, the accident occurred during this stage of the operation.
The loss of Prospector 5 represents a serious incident for Gabon’s offshore sector and for BW Energy’s ongoing Dussafu drilling programme.
The main priority remains the search for the five missing people.
Borr Drilling and BW Energy said they continue to coordinate the search and rescue effort with the relevant authorities and emergency services.
The final cause of the loss of stability and sinking of Prospector 5 will be established through an investigation. For now, it has been officially confirmed that of the 115 people on board, 110 are safe and five remain missing.
