Five people remained missing on Monday, October 26, following the shipwreck on Saturday, October 24, off Mayumba in southern Gabon, of the drilling platform Prospector 5, while 110 of the 115 people on board had been found safe and sound, according to Borr Drilling and BW Energy.
The self-elevating platform lost its stability and then sank in the evening within the Dussafu maritime permit. It was operated by Borr Drilling for a drilling campaign planned by BW Energy and had not yet begun drilling operations.
According to the initial information provided by Borr Drilling, the accident occurred during a preloading phase when one of the platform supports unexpectedly penetrated the seabed. This event caused the installation to lose stability.
Borr Drilling indicated on Monday that maritime and aerial searches were continuing to locate the five missing persons. The 110 rescued individuals have been brought ashore in Gabon, where a support system has been established.
The Gabonese Ministry of Petroleum and Gas has activated a crisis unit bringing together, among others, the National Navy, Gabon Oil Company, BW Energy, and Borr Drilling. A technical investigation will determine the circumstances of the accident and any potential responsibilities.
Reuters reported on Sunday, citing three sources close to the case, that an Indian national had been found dead and that four people remained missing. This toll was not confirmed in the latest statements available from the Gabonese government and Borr Drilling, which maintained that five people were still unaccounted for.
BW Energy has suspended production at the neighboring MaBoMo facility in accordance with its procedures. The company specified that no damage had been reported at this facility and that no accidental release of harmful substances into the sea had been observed.
The Gabonese authorities have increased surveillance of the area, located near Mayumba National Park, and maintained measures to combat potential pollution. The ministry announced that the findings of the technical investigation would be made public.
