Search and rescue operations continue as authorities probe how a modern jack-up rig capsized during routine pre-drilling operations near a sensitive coastal national park
MAYUMBA, Gabon — One worker has been confirmed dead and four others remain missing after Borr Drilling’s Prospector 5 jack-up rig sank off the coast of Mayumba in southern Gabon late on Saturday, triggering a major search and rescue operation and raising serious questions about offshore safety procedures in one of Africa’s most established oil-producing regions.
Of the 115 personnel on board the rig when it went down, 110 have been safely accounted for, according to Borr Drilling, the Bermuda-based contractor that owned and operated the vessel. The body of one of the five people initially reported missing, an Indian national employed by Borr, has been recovered, according to Sylvain Mayabi Binet, Secretary-General of Gabon’s National Organisation of Petroleum Employees (ONEP). The four still unaccounted for comprise three Gabonese nationals and one expatriate.
Gabonese authorities have not independently confirmed the fatality in all official communications, with some government statements continuing to describe five personnel as missing while search operations remain active.
What Happened
The incident occurred at approximately 8:37 p.m. local time on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in the Dussafu Marin permit area, near the MaBoMo (also referred to as Mabomont) production facility, according to Gabon’s Ministry of Petroleum and Gas and BW Energy, the Norwegian-listed operator of the licence.
Borr Drilling said preliminary findings indicated that the rig suffered a “punch-through event” during preload activities, causing it to lose stability before sinking. A punch-through is a known hazard in jack-up rig operations that occurs when one or more of the rig’s legs unexpectedly penetrates a weak layer of seabed during the jacking or preloading process, causing sudden, uneven settlement and potentially catastrophic loss of stability.
In this case, sources familiar with the incident said the rig’s legs sank asymmetrically and abnormally into the seabed of the Dussafu Marin permit during the delicate lifting phase, triggering a rapid loss of stability and the unit’s swift immersion.
The Prospector 5 is a Friede & Goldman JU-2000E class self-elevating jack-up drilling unit, built by China’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding in 2014. It is designed to operate in water depths of up to 400 feet (120 metres) and drill to depths of 35,000 feet (roughly 11,000 metres). The rig had only begun operations for BW Energy in Gabon in early July 2026 under a contract running to July 2027 with an option to extend. It had not yet begun actual drilling and was mobilising to start the MaBoMo Phase II infill campaign when the accident occurred.
The Response
Borr Drilling activated its onshore emergency response team immediately after the incident and is coordinating with local authorities, the Gabonese navy, and BW Energy on search and rescue efforts. The company has established a helpline for family members seeking information at +44 (0)1224 087026.
Gabon’s Ministry of Petroleum and Gas activated a crisis unit comprising representatives from the ministry, the navy, state-owned Gabon Oil, BW Energy, and Borr Drilling. Petroleum and Gas Minister Clotaire Kondja ordered the navy to intensify search and rescue operations at sea and launched a technical investigation into the cause of the accident.
Borr Drilling chief executive Bruno Morand expressed deep concern for those still missing and everyone affected by the disaster.
“We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident,” Morand said. “Our immediate priority is supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved.”
BW Energy, whose overriding priority it said was the safety of all personnel, confirmed it was supporting search and rescue operations in close coordination with the drilling contractor, relevant authorities, and emergency responders.
Production Halted, Environmental Risks Contained
The incident has forced an immediate halt to production at the MaBoMo offshore facility, in accordance with standard safety procedures during drilling preparations. BW Energy and Panoro Energy, the junior partner on the licence, both confirmed there had been no reported damage to the facility or related equipment, and no accidental discharge of harmful substances into the sea.
Gabon’s Ministry of Petroleum and Gas also confirmed that no harmful substances had been detected in the surrounding waters. Pollution-response resources remain deployed as a precaution to protect the coastline and nearby Mayumba National Park, a sensitive marine and coastal protected area known for its biodiversity, including sea turtles, dolphins, and extensive mangrove ecosystems.
The Dussafu Licence
The Dussafu Marin permit is one of Gabon’s key offshore oil assets. BW Energy holds the majority working interest in the licence, with Panoro Energy holding a minority stake. The MaBoMo field has been a significant producer for BW Energy, and the Phase II infill drilling campaign that the Prospector 5 was preparing to support was intended to maintain and potentially increase output from the asset.
The sinking of a modern, high-specification jack-up rig during routine preloading operations is a rare and serious event in the offshore drilling industry. Punch-through incidents, while recognised as a known risk, are precisely the type of hazard that rigorous seabed surveys and engineering assessments are designed to prevent. The technical investigation now underway will likely scrutinise the geotechnical data used to position the rig, the preload procedures followed, and whether any warning signs were missed before the legs began their fatal penetration of the seabed.
For now, the priority remains finding the four missing workers and supporting the families of all those affected, as Gabon’s oil sector confronts one of its most serious offshore safety incidents in recent years.
