The Prospector 5 drilling rig, built in 2014, sank on October 24, 2026, at 20:37 local time in the waters of Gabon. The incident occurred during loading operations and resulted in the loss of the rig's stability and its sinking with 115 personnel on board.
Details of the Incident
Borr Drilling, the owner of the rig, announced that the bodies of four employees have been recovered so far, and one other is still missing. All four recovered individuals will be transferred to the port of Gentil in Gabon. Efforts to find the missing person are ongoing.
At the time of the incident, the Prospector 5 rig was conducting jacking operations to support BW Energy's drilling program in the Dussafu license. Of the 115 people present on the rig, 110 were safely rescued and returned to shore, where they were provided with accommodation and necessary care.
Independent Investigations and Their Scope
Borr Drilling emphasized that the company is seeking an independent and objective process to determine the root cause of the incident and will cooperate fully with authorities and other relevant parties. The company has also invited a globally recognized classification society with experience in marine accident investigations to conduct an independent review of this incident.
The company's executives stated: "This is a difficult time for all those involved, especially the families and loved ones of the four individuals who lost their lives and the missing person. Our priority is to stay close to them and our employees and provide all necessary facilities and support. It is also very important to gain an accurate understanding of what happened and to investigate all possible causes of the loss of stability. This investigation will take into account all evidence and evaluate every possible cause before reaching a final conclusion."
Read more: Analysis of energy subsidies in Iran and their consequences
