The Cargo Ship Robbery is one of the five Salvage Yard Heists in GTA Online that can net you a pretty decent chunk of money. The job involves stealing a prized car for Yusuf Amir. It once belonged to famous movie producer Solomon Richards and will be on its way to Amir’s distant rich cousin via the cargo ship, La’oub Princess. While the story can change, the gist of it, as well as the missions, stays as is.
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The Salvage Yard Heists were added to GTA Online with the Chop Shop DLC in December 2023 and offer a fun way to make money. While the income is not super high, you can get anywhere from $300,000-500,000 per heist (consisting of about seven to eight missions each).
How to Complete the GTA Online: Salvage Yard Heist - The Cargo Ship Robbery
As is the case with all the Salvage Yard Heists in GTA Online, you need to register as the CEO of an organization to get started. Once you interact with the computer at the Salvage Yard, you can choose one of the three vehicles that can be stolen. Since the car, as well as the heist selection, changes with every GTA Online weekly update, ensure that you pick The Cargo Ship Robbery and its target when available.
Like the other Salvage Yard Heists, there are a total of eight listed missions before the finale comes around. The very first, available only the first time around, is Scope Out. There are also two optional jobs. Let’s take a look at The Cargo Ship Robbery’s breakdown.
The Cargo Ship Robbery - Scope Out
The objective here is to case out the docks and get more information for the main job. Once the mission starts, Jamal will instruct you to take the following pictures:
- The shipping manifesto - Know when the shipment will occur.
- The cargo ship - Understand the general layout.
- A shipping container - Find out the kind of container and locks to break into for the car.
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Once you reach the docks in this Salvage Yard Heist, preferably using a fast car in GTA Online, head into the small guard cabin to get a picture of the manifesto. The guard will engage you, so take him out any way you wish. Then, go to the second location and take a picture of another worker with the container. For the last one, just turn around and take a picture of the ship.
All you need to do now is head back to the Salvage Yard and find the Planning Wall with the entire Cargo Ship Robbery laid out.
The Cargo Ship Robbery Planning Work #1 - Sabotage and Disguise
There are a couple of objectives in this Salvage Yard Heist's planning mission. First, you need to destroy the documentation in the LSPA office so that the cargo ship can’t dock, and the second is to steal a National Coast Guard outfit. This will ensure that the ship stays out at sea in the finale and that you don’t set off an alarm when you make your approach.
It is recommended that you have a fast helicopter like the Sparrow in GTA Online, especially since you may have to travel quite a bit. There are three possible LSPA locations - Paleto Bay, Elysian Island, Del Perro Piero - and you will be assigned one at random. Once you reach the destination, look around for a small circuit box to disable the camera system before you head into the office. If you don’t mind a gunfight, you can choose to skip the extra step in The Cargo Ship Robbery.
When you enter the office, hack the computer at the end to wipe the digital records. Then, plant explosives on the three marked cabinets. Once done, all you have to do is take the duffel bag of the National Coast Guard outfit, go a certain distance to detonate the bombs, and then return to base to complete one part of this Salvage Yard Heist.
The Cargo Ship Robbery Planning Work #2 - Skylift
This is the toughest preparation mission in The Cargo Ship Robbery in GTA Online. Since the target car will be in a locked container on a ship in the middle of the sea, you will need something to take it back to shore. To get the job done, you will need to steal the Skylift, a cargo-transport helicopter that belongs to Merryweather.
You will be assigned one of two possible locations - Fort Zancudo or Sandy Shores Airfield. Before you head out, ensure you are fully kitted out with snacks, armor, and the strongest weapons in GTA Online. Similarly, ensure you have a fast vehicle, ideally aerial, to help cover the distance.
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Once the Salvage Yard Heist mission starts, head to the location. Stop a bit further away and take out Merryweather Security’s mercenaries with a sniper rifle. Be alert, as the place will be swarming with enemies, and the cops will start coming in as well if you take too long. When you move in closer, the skies will be overrun with enemy helicopters. Make your way to the anti-aircraft artillery near the Skylift and use it to take them down. It is imperative to be precise and efficient with your aim, as the fight can quickly turn into an endless loop of player death after death.
When you have eliminated them, steal the Skylift and deliver it to the marked location.
The Cargo Ship Robbery Planning Work #3 - Disrupt Air Support (Optional)
During The Cargo Ship Robbery’s finale in GTA Online, you will need to take down enemy Mavericks while escorting the Skylift to safety. Completing the Disrupt Air Support mission is optional in this Salvage Yard Heist, but completing it will significantly cut down on the combat during the final stage. Since you will need to ensure the finale gets completed without dying even once and that the Skylift’s health remains above 80% (two bonus challenges), it is imperative that you complete this job.
Once the Salvage Yard Heist mission starts from base, head to a pilot’s marked home and kill him. Interact with his computer to find details of the other Mavericks, and then make your way over to them. Like in other GTA Online missions, getting a helicopter or an Oppressor Mk II from Warstock Cache and Carry will really help quickly cover the distance and take down the enemy choppers marked on the map.
The Cargo Ship Robbery Task #1 - Bolt Cutters
The tasks in The Cargo Ship Robbery in GTA Online are pretty simple. Since the target car will be in a container on the cargo ship in the finale, you will need a pair of bolt cutters to find the correct box. That’s where this task comes in.
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Head to the green Robbery Task icon marked on the map. When you do, Jamal will call and instruct you to find the said item. A spot will be marked nearby, and exploring the area will net you a pair of bolt cutters. Once you have taken them, head to your car, evade the cops, and deliver the item to the Salvage Yard to complete this task.
The Cargo Ship Robbery Task #2 - Boat
In the Salvage Yard Heist finale, the cargo ship will be out in the middle of the sea. Since you have to make your way by boat, you need to steal one beforehand.
Once you reach the special green icon on the GTA Online map, Jamal will instruct you to steal a boat, Dinghy, or Seashark from a gang warehouse nearby. Before heading inside, ensure your inventory is topped up with enough snacks and armor, as the fight inside can be difficult. As soon as you enter, take cover and start tossing around grenades or using the shotgun to kill enemies.
Stay alert so you don’t destroy the boats needed. Once you’ve killed everyone, use one of the marked trucks to attach a boat. When you’re back in free roam, all you have to do is head back to the Salvage Yard. A couple of enemies will start following you, but they are of no concern. The only point to note is don’t make any sharp turns as the boat will get detached, and you will have to re-hook it. While a minor issue in this Salvage Yard Heist mission, it can be quite irritating.
The Cargo Ship Robbery Task #3 - Flares
Another mandatory mission in GTA Online’s The Cargo Ship Robbery - you need to get a hold of some flares. Since you will be on the La’oub Princess in the finale, you will need to mark the correct container for the Skylift’s pilot to pick up. This is where the said task comes in.
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Once you reach the icon marked on the map, Elysian Island or Vespucci Beach, Jamal will call and instruct you to get some flares. Head to the marked area and look around, whether the Lifeguard compound or station, for the flares. Once you have collected them, fool the LSPD cops and lifeguards and make the delivery to the Salvage Yard.
The Cargo Ship Robbery Task #4 - Masks (Optional)
Similar to other Salvage Yard Heists in GTA Online, you can choose to get a free mask to reduce the number of enemies chasing you once you get the car in the finale. Since completing this mission doesn’t have as much of an impact on the resistance count as Disrupt Air Support, you’re free to ignore it if you wish.
On the off-chance that you do want to get a free mask, head to the shop at Vespucci Beach and make your choice from the listed items. The task will be completed right away.
GTA Online: Salvage Yard Heist - The Cargo Ship Robbery Finale
To start The Cargo Ship Robbery’s finale, you will need to complete all the mandatory missions. Once done, simply head to the Planning Wall and begin. Also, here’s a breakdown of the bonus challenges in this Salvage Yard Heist in GTA Online:
- No lives lost - $10,000
- Reach the bridge undetected - $10,000
- Over 80% Skylift health remaining - $10,000
- All challenges completed - $20,000
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Back in free roam, head to the docks for the boat you stole earlier. Use it to reach the La'oub Princess in The Cargo Ship Robbery's finale; the smugglers there won’t be a cause for concern if you stay away from their sight cones. Once you climb the anchor chain to reach the deck, brace yourself for a challenge in this part of GTA Online's Salvage Yard Heist.
One of the challenges is to reach the bridge, the marked spot, undetected. Equip a silenced weapon and proceed in a cautious manner. Take heed of the sight cones and eliminate the enemy guards one by one. You can choose to skip a couple of them if needed, but you will have to take them down later anyway. At this point in the Salvage Yard Heist, however, prioritize stealth over kill count.
When you reach the bridge, head inside and kill the guards and the captain. Use the terminal to locate the three possible containers. When you’re back out, kill the enemies that are present - especially the one that comes in via a boat - and make your way to the containers. Since the fight can be difficult, it is advised you choose fundamentally good guns and avoid expensive but unworthy weapons in GTA Online. Break the locks and find the one that has the target car. When this is done, attach flares for the Skylift’s pilot to come in and use the Sea Sparrow to escort.
If you completed the Disrupt Air Support optional mission in The Cargo Ship Robbery earlier on, you will have to take down only a couple of Mavericks; this will be rather easy with the built-in homing missiles. Once you reach the destination and get the car from the container, simply take it back to the Salvage Yard and sell it off to Yusuf. With this, as well as the bonus cash, you will get the best bang for your buck in this Salvage Yard Heist.
