One dead, four missing after jackup drilling rig sinks off Gabon

One person is confirmed dead while four others have gone missing after Borr Drilling's jackup rig Prospector 5 sank on the Dussafu Marin licence offshore Gabon on the night (local time) of Saturday, October 24.

The rig had 115 personnel on board when it sank at approximately 20:37 on Saturday during jacking operations. Borr Drilling said 110 people had been safely accounted for and that extensive search and rescue operations were continuing.

The company's preliminary account described the rig punching through during preload activities, after which it lost stability and sank.

Borr Drilling said it had mobilised onshore emergency response personnel. It was coordinating with local authorities and BW Energy, the company that had contracted the rig, to assist affected personnel and look for those missing.

Sources said an employee of Borr, identified as an Indian national, was later found deceased. The missing individuals meanwhile include three Gabonese nationals and another expatriate.