Which Way Next? Post Covid

2020 has been a watershed year for the industry. Breakbulk’s Editorial Advisory Board of industry leaders offer their perspectives on a range of topics and where we go from here as the new year dawns.

Cover Story Introduction and Meet our Editorial Advisory Board Participants

 

AGREE:

Anders Maul: “For almost as long as one can remember, we work in an ever-changing and volatile industry. It’s a major challenge, but history shows that we, as an industry, can overcome various crises.”

John Amos: “The industry has changed and adapted to many challenges since its initial growth in the late 1960s. The main challenges have been the growth of the market, need for larger vessels to accommodate the size and weight of cargo, recessions, availability of financing, and environmental considerations. New projects are already in the bidding stage.”

Murray Cooper: “The industry must adapt to the new normal.”

Dennis Mottola: “I believe the industry has adapted well to the Covid operating environment and is flexible enough to adapt to whatever the post-Covid operating environment requires.”

Margaret Vaughan: “The coronavirus is no different than any setback the industry has faced.”

Grant Wattman: “The industry is healthy and strong. There will be a thinning of those not forward looking, taking excessive risk with pricing and contract terms they accept, and working capital challenges. The market will reshape stronger.”

Johan-Paul Vershuure: “The breakbulk sector and maritime sector in general has always been able to adjust to any new set of circumstances. It will require good cooperation between all parties in the sector, including governments setting regulations. The one that does that the quickest and the best will benefit from this current situation.”

Frans Waals: “Breakbulk is a flexible industry. Adapting to difficult and changing circumstances is second nature to it.”

Jake Swanson: “The project sector by nature is resilient and flexible. We are problem solvers and solution drivers. In most cases that I have seen, companies have been able to adapt to our current circumstances and find a way to press forward, stay in touch with project teams and continue to keep cargo moving.”

Samuel Holmes: “Adaptability is an inherent nature of the project cargo sector. We operate in a very dynamic business environment. It was not surprising that project logistics companies and the industry as a whole were quickly able to adapt and support local governments with various relief efforts. The same adjustment will be made after the storm (Covid-19) is over.”
 

NEUTRAL:

Noelle Burke: “I think the companies that refuse to recognize that the world has changed will eventually be gone. And the companies that are proactive in changing their company/execution strategy to adapt to our new world will not only survive, but thrive. The need for shipping breakbulk cargo will never just disappear. It’s how we react to the parameters we’re working in which will determine who will survive. There will NEED to be flexibility to adapt, or I don’t foresee companies around long term.”


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