Avoid hefty fines and jail terms; do not approach offshore oil platforms: MoI 

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) reminds the public to refrain from approaching offshore oil platforms, both main and ancillary, to avoid l...

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) reminds the public to refrain from approaching offshore oil platforms, both main and ancillary, to avoid legal consequences.  

Article 3 of Law No. 8 of 2004 on the Protection of Maritime Petroleum and Gas Installations stipulates that "No unauthorised person shall approach maritime facilities within a distance of less than 500 metres."

Article 4 of the same Law states, "Fishing or leaving fishing gear at a distance of less than 500 metres from maritime facilities is prohibited."

The Ministry, in a previous report, stated that violators of the above law will receive hefty fines and prison sentences, to wit: 

• In case of any approach under 500 metres for any purpose, the violation may reach QR100,000 and imprisonment for up to 3 years, or one of the two penalties.