Five people are missing after the Prospector 5 drilling rig sank off the coast of Gabon on Saturday evening with 115 people on board, the rig's owner Borr Drilling has confirmed.
The rig, owned and operated by Borr Drilling Limited, which has a base in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, sank at around 8.37pm on Saturday while conducting jacking operations offshore Gabon in Central Africa, in preparation for a planned drilling campaign. The company said early information indicates the rig experienced a "punch-through event during preload activities", resulting in loss of stability and the subsequent sinking.
As of Wednesday, five personnel remain unaccounted for, with extensive marine and air search and rescue operations ongoing. Borr Drilling said it is in contact with the families of the missing personnel, and the 110 people accounted for are being brought ashore in Gabon. STV News understands four British nationals are being supported by the Foreign Office and that no British nationals have died.
Bruno Morand, chief executive of Borr Drilling, said: "We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident. Our immediate priority is supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved."
BW Energy, the customer for the drilling campaign, said its overriding priority is the safety of all personnel and that it is supporting the search and rescue operations in close coordination with Borr Drilling, relevant authorities and emergency responders. Production at the MaBoMo facility is shut down in accordance with standard procedure during ongoing drilling preparations, and the company reported no damage to the facility or related equipment, nor any accidental discharge of harmful substances to the sea from the facility.
The rig was constructed in Shanghai in 2014 and can operate in water up to 400ft deep. Borr Drilling said its emergency response team has been activated.
An FCDO spokesperson said: "We are providing support to a number of British Nationals in Gabon and remain in contact with the local authorities."
Family members seeking information or assistance can contact the team in Aberdeenshire at +44 (0)1224 087026.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Five families are waiting for news of missing personnel while air and sea searches continue.
- The incident halted drilling preparations at BW Energy's MaBoMo facility, though the company reports no damage or discharge.
- It puts a focus on the risks of jack-up rig operations, where legs are lowered to the seabed before drilling.
Background
Prospector 5 is a jack-up drilling rig, a type of mobile offshore platform that lowers legs to the seabed and raises its hull above the water. Jacking operations adjust the legs as a rig prepares to drill. A punch-through can occur when a leg suddenly breaks through the seabed, causing the platform to lose stability. The rig, built in Shanghai in 2014, was being prepared for a drilling campaign off Gabon for BW Energy. Borr Drilling, the owner and operator, has a base in Westhill, Aberdeenshire.
Key Perspectives
Borr Drilling: says it is "deeply concerned" for those unaccounted for, with its immediate priority being the search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved.
BW Energy: says safety is its overriding priority, and it is supporting the search in coordination with Borr Drilling, authorities and emergency responders, with production at MaBoMo shut down and no reported damage or discharge.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: says it is providing support to a number of British nationals in Gabon and remains in contact with local authorities.
What to Watch
- Whether the five missing personnel are located by the ongoing marine and air search operations.
- Any further statements from Borr Drilling or BW Energy on the cause of the "punch-through event".
- Updates on the 110 accounted-for personnel being brought ashore in Gabon.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedFive people are missing after the Prospector 5 sank off Gabon with 115 people on board.STV News: “Five people are still missing after a drilling rig owned by a firm with a base in Aberdeenshire sank off the coast of Gabon with 115 people on board.”
- SupportedBorr Drilling confirmed the rig sank at around 8.37pm on Saturday.STV News: “The Prospector 5 drilling rig, owned and operated by Borr Drilling Limited, with a base in Westhill, confirmed the sinking took place at around 8.37pm on Saturday.”
- SupportedBorr Drilling says 110 people are accounted for and being brought ashore in Gabon.STV News: “Borr Drilling says it is in contact with the families of the missing personnel, while the 110 people accounted for are being brought ashore in Gabon.”
- SupportedAs of Wednesday, five people remained unaccounted for and search and rescue operations were ongoing.STV News: “115 personnel were on board, with five people still unaccounted for as of Wednesday. [...] Extensive marine and air search and rescue operations remain ongoing.”
- SupportedSTV News understands four British nationals are being supported by the Foreign Office.STV News: “STV News understands four British nationals are being supported by the Foreign Office and that no British nationals have died.”
- SupportedNo British nationals have died.STV News: “STV News understands four British nationals are being supported by the Foreign Office and that no British nationals have died.”
- SupportedBorr Drilling said early information indicated a “punch-through event during preload activities” caused loss of stability and the sinking.STV News: “The firm said early information indicates that the rig experienced a “punch-through event during preload activities”, resulting in loss of stability and the subsequent sinking.”
- SupportedBruno Morand said: “We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident. Our immediate priority is supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved.”STV News: “Bruno Morand, CEO of Borr Drilling, said: “We are deeply concerned for those who remain unaccounted for and everyone affected by this incident. “Our immediate priority is supporting the ongoing search and rescue efforts and the welfare of all personnel involved.””
- SupportedProduction at the MaBoMo facility is shut down in accordance with standard procedure during ongoing drilling preparations.STV News: ““Production at the MaBoMo facility is shut down in accordance with standard procedure during ongoing drilling preparations.””
- Partly supportedThe company reported no damage to the MaBoMo facility or related equipment.STV News: ““There has been no reported damage to the facility or related equipment, nor any accidental discharge of harmful substances to the sea from the facility.””
- SupportedThere was no accidental discharge of harmful substances to the sea from the facility.STV News: ““There has been no reported damage to the facility or related equipment, nor any accidental discharge of harmful substances to the sea from the facility.””
- SupportedAn FCDO spokesperson said: “We are providing support to a number of British Nationals in Gabon and remain in contact with the local authorities.”STV News: “An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are providing support to a number of British Nationals in Gabon and remain in contact with the local authorities.””
