Sailors offered $25,000 for risky Persian Gulf oil runs. Shipping companies are offering sailors up to $25,000 per round trip to transport oil through the war-hit Persian Gulf. Crude exports via the Strait of Hormuz surged to 16.5 million barrels/day in September from 5 million in March. Nine merchant ships were attacked in two weeks, with one seafarer killed. Supertanker rates hit $1.2 million/day.