On the ocean: Financial meltdown

“Back in 2007 business was good in project cargo,” said Martin Lanting, founder of diversified brokerage 24Vision, based in Rotterdam. “Everything was at record levels, and the offshore energy business was at big numbers. Oil was creeping up to USD100 a barrel and everyone was very excited. Until October 2008. After the demise of Lehman Brothers and the financial crisis, everything dropped dramatically, almost overnight.”