Qatari authorities investigating reported murder on offshore support platform

Dec. 15, 2022

A British member of staff onboard a jackup platform in the Persian Gulf has been detained in Qatar in connection with a murder investigation.

Seafox Burj is a three-legged, self-elevating jackup unit for accommodation and offshore support services.

Offshore staff

A British contractor has been arrested after allegedly beating his roommate of Scottish origin to death on an oil rig offshore Qatar on Monday. The dead man’s body on the offshore facility was wrapped in a bed sheet and hidden in a bathroom after he was allegedly hit by his co-worker, reports said. Pictured is a room on the Seafox Burj jackup.

DOHA, Qatar — A British member of staff onboard the Seafox Burj jackup platform in the Persian Gulf has been detained in Qatar in connection with a murder investigation, according to a report in Britain’s Daily Telegraph.

It follows the apparent bludgeoning to death of another UK staff member on the facility with a breathing apparatus bottle, with the body then reportedly hidden in a bed sheet in the victim’s bathroom.

The alleged assailant is also said to have attacked a third UK national who became suspicious and discovered the body. In the scuffle that ensued, he suffered injuries that required hospitalization but was later released.

All three are said to work for Scottish subsea contractor Film-Ocean, which operates ROVs for subsea equipment inspections.

Another report by the UK’s Sun newspaper said Film-Ocean was cooperating with Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office to determine the full circumstances.

12.15.2022