Going through past reports on the prospects of the Maritime Industry, may be quite amusing since after the passing of time you realise how wrong people have been in attempting to forecast the future of our industry.Since many question-marks remain combined with perilous uncertainty prevailing today, I feel that it is unwise to make plans or prophecies. A more pragmatic definition of “prospect” is “possibility”. In shipping prudency and preparedness is the safest course to tackle the unexpected possibilities that lie ahead.

‘Prospect’ is defined as anticipation i.e. expectation or prediction, in other words 

wishful thinking. It is also defined as vision, which leads us to theoretical 

expectations. 

We all know where the industry stands today:

– The climate issue for which we are recipients of lectures and preaching by qualified and unqualified experts together with public figures that have jumped on the band wagon, which remind me of the stereotype answer in beauty pageants – “World peace”. The fact is that the maritime industry is navigating through uncharted waters since the technology to achieve the level of ambition, is not yet available.

– The geopolitical uncertainty which no one appears to have predicted prior to February last. Will there be more turmoil in other corners of our planet? Where and when?

– Is globalisation back tracking? The importance of maritime transport is highlighted during the current crisis and can be described as the life blood of international commerce.

– The lack of sufficient and qualified sea personnel continues to be a major issue.

– CII, energy crisis in Europe, trade sanctions, how will these issues affect maritime transport?

Since many question-marks remain combined with perilous uncertainty prevailing today, I feel that it is unwise to make plans or prophecies. 

A more pragmatic definition of “prospect” is “possibility”. In shipping prudency and preparedness is the safest course to tackle the unexpected possibilities that lie ahead.

KALES THALASSES