By Salma El-Sakka
Three bodies have been recovered after the Prospector 5 drilling rig sank off the coast of Mayumba, Gabon, late Saturday with 115 people aboard. The rig, owned and operated by Borr Drilling and contracted to support BW Energy's operations, went down during preload activities before drilling had begun.
Casualties and Search Efforts
Five people were initially unaccounted for. Gabonese Navy Chief of Staff Charles Hubert Bekale-Meyong confirmed on Wednesday that three bodies had been located with assistance from an underwater remotely operated vehicle, while two people remained missing. An Indian national was among the dead, and the missing included Gabonese nationals and an expatriate, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Cause and Environmental Concerns
Borr Drilling stated preliminary information indicated a punch-through event during preload activities caused a loss of stability and the subsequent sinking. The incident occurred in the Dussafu Marin permit area, where BW Energy holds a 73.5 percent working interest and Panoro Energy holds 17.5 percent. Approximately 280 cubic metres of marine diesel fuel were onboard when the rig sank.
Official Response
Borr said it was coordinating with its customer and local authorities to mobilize resources and mitigate environmental impact. Gabon's Ministry of Petroleum and Gas activated a crisis unit, ordered the navy to reinforce search and rescue operations, and launched a technical investigation, Petroleum and Gas Minister Clotaire Kondja confirmed.
