Borr Drilling Says Fourth Body Recovered From Prospector 5 Rig Sinking

Borr Drilling (BORR ) said on November 2, 2026 that search and rescue teams had located the body of a fourth individual following the sinking of the Prospector 5 drilling rig offshore Gabon. All four located individuals have been recovered and are being transported to Port Gentil, Gabon, while search efforts continue for the remaining individual who is still unaccounted for, the company said in a November 2 update.

Independent Investigation

The company has engaged a classification society it described as globally recognized, with extensive experience in offshore and maritime incident investigations, to conduct an independent investigation into the incident. Borr Drilling said it remains committed to an independent and objective process to determine the root cause and will continue to cooperate fully and transparently with the relevant authorities and other parties involved.

Sinking and Search Operations

The incident occurred at approximately 20:37 local time on October 24, 2026, while the Prospector 5 was conducting jacking operations offshore Gabon in preparation for a planned drilling campaign, according to the company’s initial announcement on October 25, 2026. Preliminary information indicates that the rig experienced a punch-through event during preload activities, resulting in a loss of stability and the subsequent sinking of the rig, the company said.

The Prospector 5 is owned and operated by Borr Drilling and was contracted to support BW Energy’s drilling operations offshore Gabon. There were 115 personnel onboard at the time of the incident; 110 individuals were safely accounted for and five were initially unaccounted for.

In an October 26, 2026 update, the company said the 110 accounted-for personnel were being brought ashore in Gabon, where care and support was being provided, and that extensive marine and air search and rescue operations remained ongoing for the five missing individuals.

In an October 29, 2026 update, Borr Drilling said it had been notified that an underwater remotely operated vehicle had located the bodies of three individuals, with recovery efforts underway and two individuals still unaccounted for. That update also stated that approximately 280 cubic meters of marine diesel fuel was onboard the Prospector 5 at the time of the incident, and that resources had been mobilized and measures were being taken in coordination with the customer and local authorities to mitigate and minimize any environmental impact.

Borr Drilling describes itself as a leading international jackup drilling contractor providing services to the global oil and gas industry. Its shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Oslo Børs.

Bruno Morand, CEO of Borr Drilling, said in the November 2 update: “This continues to be an incredibly difficult time for everyone involved, and above all, for the families and loved ones of the four individuals who have lost their lives and for the individual who remains missing. Our priority remains staying close to them and our employees, providing all the care and support we can.”

Morand added: “It is also critically important to establish a thorough and objective understanding of what occurred and all possible causes of a catastrophic loss of stability are in scope and will be considered. The investigation will fully consider all evidence and assess every potential cause before reaching a final determination.”