Shipowners are offering record bonuses to seafarers prepared to sail through the Strait of Hormuz as continuing attacks on merchant ships make it increasingly difficult to recruit crews.
According to Bloomberg, South Korea’s Sinokor Group is offering an extra six months’ salary for a single round voyage carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia or Iraq to ports in the Gulf of Oman. The voyage is expected to take about one month, highlighting how much operators are prepared to pay to keep tankers trading through the region.
The offers come as security continues to deteriorate. Recent attacks on MV Kavomaleas and MV Kaifan have further increased concerns among crews.
Under international maritime labour rules, seafarers may refuse to enter designated high-risk areas and request repatriation before the voyage. To keep ships fully manned, operators are increasing pay and bonuses.
Senior officers are receiving the highest offers. Tanker masters, who typically earn about USD 15,000 a month, can receive tens of thousands of dollars in additional pay for a single voyage. Ratings and junior officers are also being offered bonuses worth several months’ salary.
Maritime labour groups say the extra pay reflects the exceptional risks facing crews but cannot eliminate the danger of missile and drone attacks. As security threats persist, shipowners must balance strong demand for Gulf exports with the safety and welfare of their seafarers.
