EDITORIAL
TAKING ‘NEW NORMAL’ TO NORMAL? As 2020 creeps towards its conclusion, this is normally the time of year that media works on the post mortems and seeks forecasts for the coming year from industry leaders, insiders and analysts. After several years of downturn within the industrial project and breakbulk markets, we decided to forego our usual forecast exercise at the close of 2019. We reasoned at the time that, after so many false hopes and failed rebounds, there were only so many ways for participants to say that they were “cautiously optimistic” about the coming year. So far in 2020, optimism Gary Burrows has become in even thinner supply than toilet paper during the pandemic’s onset. The world has faced so many catastrophes, calamities and crises that a cynical game of Calamity Bingo, with cards populated with plagues, pandemics and disasters, would have to end in a coverall. As we claw our way to 2021, there’s such a level of uncertainty across industries, governments, trade and business, it’s worth reviving our attempt to draw insights on how anyone might navigate the “new normal” to eventually being just normal. For this issue, News Editor Carly Fields took a unique approach from conventional forecasts, asking participants to weigh a series of statements anticipating key issues the industry will face in the coming year. Participants agreed or disagreed, and defended their position. The project also included several questions for more straightforward responses. Breakbulk was fortunate to be able to rely on its panel of 15 current and former Editorial Advisory Board members for responses. This lineup provides a deep and broad advisory forum in terms of industry verticals, global markets, and diversity. Responses in our cover story, “Which Way Next?,” (page 12) cover topics
6 BREAKBULK MAGAZINE www.breakbulk.com
such as digitalization, adapting to the post-Covid-19 operating environment, sustainability, remote working in the wake of the pandemic, climate, 2021 project prospects, public versus private projects, and industry diversity. These have been key topics that Breakbulk has explored and continues to focus upon in our media and events. Our advisory board members, beyond being key leaders in their industry roles, are also important sources and resources for our industry-leading coverage and analysis. We welcome thoughts and insights from all industry participants regarding our cover story, or any of our coverage and events content.
DIGITAL SPECIALS
While, due to the pandemic, Breakbulk Europe was not able to be held in person this year, instead Breakbulk Events & Media presented its first Breakbulk Europe Digital Special. The sessions were well attended and an engaged audience was responsive to the webinars and being able to engage industry colleagues. This issue includes coverage of the Digital Event sessions, on pages 64-70, and the webinars are also available for replay at http://europe.breakbulk.com/page/thedigital-special-2020. The Breakbulk Americas’ Digital Special will be held Nov. 3-4. You can register to attend the sessions at www.breakbulk. com/page/breakbulk365. In addition, BreakbulkONE, both the weekly newsletter and on our website, www.Breakbulk.com, includes videos with key participants from the Digital Specials.
CLARIFICATION
In the Issue 5 / 2020 edition, a profile on Bechtel Global Logistics’ Jack Futcher should have said: “BGL, created in 1997, is large scale, with expenditures in logistics services as a portion of the US$16 billion that the company spends in procurement annually. ‘We have many strategic partners that offer logistics services, but our direct self-perform model ensures that in addition to cost, we put safety, schedule and predictability as priorities,’ Futcher said.”
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Gary G. Burrows / +1 904 535 5460 gary.burrows@hyve.group NEWS EDITOR Carly Fields carly.fields@hyve.group DESIGNER Mark Clubb REPORTERS Paul Scott Abbott Felicity Landon Lori Musser Namrata Nadkarni Thomas Timlen Simon West BREAKBULK EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD John Amos Amos Logistics
Noelle Burke Agility
Dennis Devlin Maersk
Dharmendra Gangrade
L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering
John Hark
Bertling Project Logistics
Samuel Holmes Wood
Dennis Mottola
Global Logistics Consultant
Roger Strevens
Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Jake Swanson
DHL Industrial Projects
Ulrich Ulrichs
BBC Chartering
Margaret Vaughan Consultant
Johan-Paul Verschuure Rebel Group
Frans Waals
Dynamar D.V.
Grant Wattman
Jade Management Group
PORTFOLIO DIRECTOR Nick Davison nick.davison@hyve.group To advertise in Breakbulk Media products, visit: http://breakbulk.com/page/advertise SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe, email gary.burrows@hyve.group, or call from inside the U.S. +1 904 535 5460 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm EST. A publication of Hyve Group plc. The Studios, 2 Kingdom Street Paddington, London W2 6JG, UK
ISSUE 6 / 2020
