It seems like it was a completely different universe that we launched the magazine in – and in some ways it was. This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the magazine and its various platforms and I feel extremely proud that we not only survived the serious outfall of 2008, but have also managed to navigate the last two years of the COVID pandemic – albeit with a bit of fumbling.

We have some interesting initiatives planned to mark this milestone, but we cannot ignore the current economic and social climate that we are operating in. The last two years have brought some challenges and hard lessons, but have also given us the kick we needed to start to re-strategise how Maritime Review sees its future within the maritime Business-to-Business publishing environment.

Having left 2021 with a full blown dose of COVID’s omicron variant and entered this New Year still trying to return to health, I have a new perspective of what those who suffered through the earlier, less mild versions of the virus must have had to endure. I am grateful to have had a vaccination and to have only fallen ill at this stage.

In the spirit of this gratefulness and the start of my 20 in 2022 series, I would like to express what else we at the magazine are grateful for:

20 reasons to be grateful in 2022

1. We are grateful to clients that supported the launch of the magazine in 2002.
2. We are grateful to the clients that continued to support the magazine since then.
3. We are grateful to the clients who have committed to supporting the title going forward.
4. We are grateful to the many maritime stalwarts who have provided their input over the years.
5. We are grateful for the new-comers that are beginning to stir up the industry.
6. We are grateful for the prompts from industry about potential stories that should be written.
7. We are grateful for those that supported some of our stranger initiatives like the Flash Mob and the Maritime Scrabble Tournament.
8. We are grateful to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) for their generous support of the Maritime Industry Awards gala events that we hope one day to relaunch.
9. We are grateful to those that told us when we got facts wrong.
10. We are grateful to clients like AMSOL (and their predecessors) who have been constant loyal supporters of our many initiatives.
11.  We are grateful that the maritime industry continues to be an interesting and diverse sector with sub-sectors that assure that our work is seldom boring.
12. We are grateful to have partnered with many event organisers over the years and look forward to continuing to do so.
13. We are grateful to our followers on social media who remain engaged and vocal.
14. We are grateful for the opportunities to collaborate with maritime stakeholders on the publishing of maritime related textbooks and handbooks.
15. We are grateful to those who have agreed to be interviewed on the record about some of the more prickly subjects.
16. We are grateful that many of our clients in the maritime sectors were seen as essential services during the beginning phases of the pandemic.
17. We are grateful to have been witness to the launch of a number of locally-built vessels.
18. We are grateful to have celebrated maritime milestones with many companies and individuals.
19. We are grateful to have seen new companies launched and flourish.
20. We are grateful that there are still opportunities for the title after 20 years.