Bermuda-headquartered offshore drilling contractor Borr Drilling has confirmed three fatalities following the sinking of its rig off the coast of Gabon. While 110 workers have safely returned ashore out of the 115 on board the jack-up at the time of the tragic incident, search and rescue teams continue efforts to locate two people still missing.
Borr Drilling has provided an update on the Prospector 5 incident, which occurred at approximately 20:37 local time on October 24, 2026, when the rig owner’s 2014-built jack-up experienced a punch through event during preload activities, which led to loss of stability and the subsequent sinking of the rig.
At the time of the incident, the rig was conducting jacking operations offshore Gabon for a planned campaign to support BW Energy's drilling operations at the Dussafu license, with 115 personnel on board.
The drilling contractor has confirmed that 110 out of the 115 personnel have returned ashore and remain in Gabon, where they are being provided with accommodation, care, and ongoing support, with their well-being remaining a priority for the company.
Given that five people were still unaccounted for, search and rescue operations continued in the hopes of finding them.
According to Borr Drilling, the rig owner has been notified that an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) has located the bodies of three individuals.
Currently, recovery efforts are underway, and extensive search and rescue efforts continue for the two individuals who remain unaccounted for.
Bruno Morand, CEO of Borr Drilling, emphasized: "We are deeply saddened by this tragic development, and our thoughts are with our colleagues, their families, and loved ones.
“We recognize the extraordinary uncertainty and pain they are facing. Our immediate priority remains supporting the families and the ongoing search, rescue and recovery efforts."
At the time of the incident, there were approximately 280 cubic meters of marine diesel fuel onboard the Prospector 5 jack-up rig.
“In coordination with its customer and the local authorities, resources have been mobilized and measures are being taken to mitigate and minimize any environmental impact related to this incident,” Borr Drilling underlined.