What a year! There is much to write about regarding 2020 and, while most of us have been in some form of lockdown for much of the year in our homes, some 400,000 seafarers have not.

About the New Normal series

After a year like no other, TradeWinds asked 40 shipping industry stakeholders what they see for 2021 after a year beset by the coronavirus, and how the pandemic will shape shipping's future.

Read the full report here.

I now wish I had stayed awake in the chemistry class

Jens Martin Jensen

They have been faced with extended and very long periods on board ships, uncertain of prospects, and many have missed important events with their families at home.

We must do better — even if we have to contribute to extra immigration costs and rapid testing expenses at the usual disembarkation ports. I want to send Seasons Greetings to all seafarers onboard and a promise to do much better from now on.

With that off my chest, I now wish I had stayed awake in chemistry class, where we learned about the periodic table and its compounds.

NH3, H2, C3, C4 , CH3OH, and on some of them you can add a “bio” or “e” in front and get more choices and of course LNG. Oh, and that is something I know about from my experience with an impressive US-based gas-to-power company [New Fortress Energy].

What is the next and right fuel for our ships? Surely there cannot be just only one option for the 70,000 oceangoing vessels from 100 dwt to 400,000 dwt out there?

It is a sensitive subject and perhaps I’ll keep my opinion for myself. (I do have one!)

But, as we all know, older vessels do consume more bunkers and thus perhaps they should be retired first.

Has anybody mentioned mandatory recycling age? Anything built before the year 2001 would be a good start. This would be easy to regulate as Class and the P&I clubs could theoretically just withdraw cover from these ships.

I cannot wait to get on with 2021 — maybe even some travelling again and the odd conference. Will there be both Nor-Shipping and Posidonia next year?

But first I will try and find my old chemistry books and read up to be ready for the debate, which will resume once we have sorted the dire seafarer situation out first.

Happy New Year!