Up to $150,000 for one month at sea: tanker crews take huge risks in Hormuz
Tanker crews are being offered record pay to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. Some tanker masters can earn up to $100,000 a month, plus a $50,000 bonus for every transit. As NextShip claims, Other crew members can also receive several times their normal wages for work in the high-risk area.
But the extra money comes with serious risks. One first mate told the Wall Street Journal that his vessel crossed the area at night with its lights off. GPS was unavailable for hours, so the crew used radar and coastal landmarks to navigate.
He said about half of the crew left after one round trip. The company found replacements after promising extra pay. The first mate himself was paid three times his monthly salary for the days he spent in the conflict zone.
The danger remains high. Reuters reported 12 attacks, attempted attacks and harassment incidents involving tankers between September 28 and October 5. The IMO has recorded 93 confirmed incidents and 24 seafarer deaths since the conflict began.
