A Borr Drilling oil and gas rig sank off the coast of Gabon late Saturday night, leaving one employee dead and four others unaccounted for according to reports from Reuters.
The Prospector 5 rig was carrying 115 people when it went down at approximately 9:40 p.m. local time in the Dussafu Marin permit area. According to preliminary reports from the offshore contractor, the rig experienced a "punch-through event" during routine preload activities, triggering a sudden loss of stability.
Reuters reports that Gabon’s Ministry of Petroleum and Gas has activated a multi-agency crisis unit and deployed naval forces to reinforce offshore search and rescue operations. Petroleum Minister Clotaire Kondja announced that a formal technical investigation has been ordered to determine the exact circumstances of the sinking.
"Our immediate priority is supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved," Borr Drilling Chief Executive Bruno Morand said in a statement.
At the time of the incident, the Prospector 5 had not yet begun active drilling. It was contracted to support BW Energy, which holds a 73.5% working interest in the permit alongside Panoro Energy.
Following the sinking, Panoro Energy confirmed that production at the nearby Mabomont facility has been suspended as a precaution. Government officials report no signs of accidental chemical discharges or marine pollution, though environmental response teams remain mobilized to protect the coastline and the adjacent Mayumba National Park.