In shipping every day is a new normal. Whether an owner, charterer, operator or broker, we all learn something new each day. In shipping no two days are the same. Market volatility and daily networking makes it an exciting business, bringing a something new each day, something our members adapt to as second nature.

Many of us are starting to untether ourselves from remote work stations and contemplate the new normal. We are all are assessing the risks while the COVID virus is very much with us.

Some of our members are already back in their offices, others are returning in a controlled manner, many are still working as best as they can from home, but all know the advantages of being in an office environment embracing the daily challenges.

We are in an industry where risk taking is always assessed and minimised, particularly when human wellbeing is at stake. It is often said that our assets are our people, so whether our people are at sea or land based, our shipping industry cares.

We invest in our people, we train our people and we depend on our people, and that is why as we return to offices, we must additionally focus on bringing our apprentices and our less experienced colleagues into the markets.
An old hand working from home who has been speaking with younger colleagues on the phone or by video cannot be a substitute for interacting in a work environment and face to face mentoring.

Each of our experienced members will remember their days learning the ropes and it is now knowing how inefficiencies are exposed when working from home with partial information that it is especially important to share your knowledge. You will probably be returning to your offices in phases or partial weeks, but I urge each of you to be conscientious to ask a younger member to return with you on those days; he or she will be eager to know how you were part of a team that kept the business flowing and they will remember these difficult days and how they were mentored after the lockdowns.

As we enter Q3 2020 and witness global businesses reacting to COVID caused financial shock suffered in Q1 and Q2, we should remind ourselves that shipping will always be required to move the worlds bulk commodities as well as for distribution of the products and consumer goods.

I cannot pretend to understand the frustration and personal difficulties that have burdened you over the past few months, but I do wish you, your families, your colleagues and friends calmer seas through 2020.