Ship captains and crews transiting the Strait of Hormuz make so much danger pay that they’re ‘almost being viewed as mercenaries’

Ship captains and crews transiting the Strait of Hormuz are earning significantly higher wages due to the increased danger and risk involved. The narrow strait, a vital shipping lane for global oil trade, is located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, an area of geopolitical tension.

Captains can earn up to $100,000 a month, plus a $50,000 bonus for each trip, while sailors can make four to six times their normal rates. This high pay has led some to view these seafarers as 'almost being mercenaries'.