Energy: Gabon
Key Facts
—Who. Prospector 5, a Borr Drilling rig contracted by BW Energy; 115 aboard.
—What. The jack-up rig sank; 110 people were rescued and 5 are missing.
—Where. Dussafu Marine permit, off Mayumba, Nyanga province, southern Gabon.
—When. Saturday 24 October 2026, about 20:37 local time (19:37 GMT).
—Status. As of 25 October 2026, 12:45 GMT
The Prospector 5 rig sinking on Saturday 24 October 2026 has left five workers missing off Mayumba in southern Gabon. A total of 110 of the 115 people on board were rescued.
The Gabon oil rig accident happened at about 20:37 local time (19:37 GMT) on the Dussafu Marine permit, in Atlantic waters off Central Africa. It matters to US readers because the rig belongs to Norwegian driller Borr Drilling, works for oil company BW Energy, and shows how risky the start of an offshore drilling campaign can be.
What We Know
The Prospector 5 rig sank on Saturday 24 October 2026 at about 20:37 local time, according to Gabonreview. The Mayumba rig accident took place off Nyanga province, in the south of Gabon.
Borr Drilling, a Norwegian driller, owns the rig, and BW Energy, through its unit BW Energy Gabon SA, had contracted it. Gabonreview reports that the rig was built in 2014 and designed for waters about 122 metres deep.
Of the 115 people aboard, 110 were rescued and five are missing. No deaths have been confirmed, and the Prospector 5 crew members who are missing have not been named.
Gabon Media Time reports that Borr Drilling cited a preliminary cause. Gabonreview says the seabed gave way beneath one of the rig’s supports during positioning and preloading, causing a loss of stability.
BW Energy says the rig lost stability while jacking up ahead of a planned drilling campaign. The exact cause is still to be established by the investigation.
BW Energy says it is coordinating the rescue with Borr Drilling, the authorities and emergency teams. President Brice Oligui Nguema said on Facebook on 25 October 2026 that he follows the search and rescue “hour by hour”.
He instructed the government to mobilise all State means, notably the Navy (Marine nationale), and reminded BW Energy that the State expects full cooperation. He added that “Gabonese have the right to know what happened”.
BW Energy halted production at its MaBoMo production platform under standard procedures, according to a company statement reported by Direct Infos Gabon. No damage to the facilities and no accidental discharge of harmful substances into the sea have been reported.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Gas confirmed the sinking and opened an investigation. It will examine the exact circumstances, causes and any responsibilities, and its conclusions are to be made public.
In plain English
—Jack-up rig. A drilling platform that stands on long legs resting on the seabed.
—Preloading. Crews add weight to the legs to test that the seabed can carry the rig.
—Punch-through. The seabed gives way under one leg, and the rig loses its balance.
What Is Not Known
The identities, nationalities and roles of the five missing workers have not been disclosed. We are not naming or guessing anything about them, out of respect for their families.
The seabed explanation is preliminary, and the investigation must still establish what happened. We do not know how long the search will last or when production at MaBoMo will resume.
It is also unclear when the findings will be published. The ministry has said only that its conclusions will be made public.
What It Means for Travelers and US Readers
The accident took place at sea, and we know of no travel advisory linked to it. Anyone planning a trip to Gabon should check the official advice of their own government.
Jack-up rigs stand on legs on the seabed, so the ground beneath them matters during every move. For the offshore industry, the sinking is a reminder that positioning a rig is a delicate phase of the work.
Gabon is an Atlantic oil producer in Central Africa, and its ministry has promised to publish its conclusions. Those findings should show what contractors and operators can learn from the accident.
The Rio Times will update this story as official information arrives. For wider coverage, see our Gabon page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Prospector 5 rig?
The jack-up drilling rig sank on 24 October 2026 off Mayumba in southern Gabon. Of 115 people aboard, 110 were rescued and five are missing.
Who owns and uses the rig?
Norwegian driller Borr Drilling owns the rig, and oil company BW Energy had contracted it. The rig sank on the Dussafu Marine permit.
What caused the sinking?
The cause is preliminary. Borr Drilling is reported to have cited seabed subsidence beneath one of the rig’s supports, and an official investigation will establish the facts.
Is there any damage to the sea or platforms?
BW Energy reports no damage to its facilities and no accidental discharge of harmful substances into the sea. It halted production at its MaBoMo platform under standard procedures.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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