Five crew members missing after Borr Drilling's Prospector 5 capsizes off Gabon

The offshore drilling unit Prospector 5, operated by Norway’s Borr Drilling, sank off the coast of Gabon on Saturday night as it was being readied for a planned drilling campaign. Of the 115 crew members on board, 110 have been rescued and accounted for, while five remain missing, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation. Borr Drilling’s chief executive Bruno Morand said the company is deeply worried for those still unaccounted for and is focusing on supporting the rescue effort.

The rig was contracted by BW Energy, which confirmed that its MaBoMo production facility had already been shut down as part of routine preparations and that no injuries to the plant or equipment were reported. BW Energy also stated that no harmful substances have been released into the environment. The incident underscores the hazards of offshore drilling and the importance of rapid emergency response.