We have asked Mrs Lena Dyring, Director, Cruise Operations at Norwegian Seafarers' Union, to make an assessment of 2020 from her perspective and share her message for the new year across the global community. Among others, she highlights there is urgent need for the industry to make the COVID-19 vaccine available to seafarers as soon as possible.

In our special column this month, we are pleased to host an interview with Mrs Lena Dyring, Director, Cruise Operations, Norwegian Seafarers’ Union, who describes how she joined shipping industry, highlighting that her job gives her the opportunity not only to make a difference for seafarers but also for women seafarers in particular.