Shipowners offer increased half-year salary to attract crew to transport oil through the Strait of Hormuz

Glonghui, July 21 – A shipowner has offered crew members a six-month wage bonus in an attempt to persuade them to transport oil through the Strait of Hormuz. The crew faces a harsh decision: accept a substantial financial reward, or risk possible loss of life. The world's largest supertanker owner, Sinokor Group, has made this proposal to its crew for a round trip from Saudi Arabia or Iraq to load crude oil, then discharge it at the Gulf of Oman.According to a document seen by the media that was issued late last week, the company promises six months of extra salary if the crew completes the round trip. The company states the entire journey is expected to take about one month. According to the United Nations shipping agency, since the outbreak of war at the end of February, at least 59 merchant ships have been attacked in the Persian Gulf and its surrounding regions, resulting in 17 seafarer deaths. These proposals were put forward before another merchant ship was attacked on Monday, highlighting the underlying tension of passing through this waterway. Crew must choose between forgoing potentially massive rewards or gambling with their own lives.