The future.

Captains Log - 1501 / 29th June 2025

There is a front coming in, swirling around the oceans and pumping air to us. Around now it comes in from the South and mixes with the East and brings with it the air from the Southern Ocean.

The future for me is through many lens.

Since leaving the world of daily navigation of shipping for operational imperative, I have been honoured to be able to contribute to the future with the knowledge I have.

The Tasmanian Trade Strategy 2025 - 2030.

The Ship - Office

I have the absolute pleasure of working with Erin. We are writing the Tasmanian Trade Strategy for the next five years for the economy of Tasmania. I cannot express the honour I feel in what will be our perspective for the future of trade, endorsed by Tasmanians.

Over the last three months I have been privileged to immerse myself in conversations with people who have dedicated their lives to the success of Tasmania as an economy and an incredible place to live. The things I am learning catapult my mind to what the world will look like in the future so that if they chose, our children can live on the most safest and beautiful island on the planet.

Tasmania is full of amazing people and incredible determination. We explore Antarctica and space from here. We monitor and understand the Southern Ocean from here. We have industries here. We contribute to the rest of Australia and the world with deep knowledge and experience. Tasmanian experience is not to be underestimated.

The future lens has never been more abundant. Channeled through lines of satellites via beams of ones and zero’s, the window to the world is quite incredible. It is obviously not all good out there though, so navigating around the bumps is always something to consider. In my opinion, if you navigated that sneeze thingy we all went through, then you are already uniquely aware of the need for vigilance.

Over the next six months I will be out and about around the island talking to many people and listening to their experience and visions. In early 2026 there will be a function somewhere when the Tasmanian Trade Strategy 2025 - 2030 will be launched.

Ports and Antarctica

Writing has always been something I have enjoyed. I guess from the history of publications over the last couple of decades it is enjoyed by readers.

A new world for me is collaborating with people on the writing process. It is a world that I enjoy considerably. I have written five articles related to the ports of Tasmania being the trade windows to the world.

If you have ever stood beside a ship alongside at a port then you know.

My next series of articles is on Antarctica. The theme is past, present and future.

After Antarctica I will be exploring a conceptual future for a port in Tasmania.

Saskia. K. Photography - THE SHiP - Autumn 2025.

THE SHiP

I cannot understate the world of living on sixty seven acres of forest overlooking the Tasman Sea.

We have recently reconciled with an undergrowth burn at The Ship. In August or September 2025, over 127 years of undergrowth will be burned by man. The Tasmanian Fire Service will coordinate a program with local fire units to control burn at The Ship. By doing this we provide a barrier between Humbug Point, the valley through to St Helens and our neighbours from any lightning or ambiguous tourists.

The property is quite ancient when you stand still in a forest of towering gum, ironbark, peppermint trees hundreds of years old. Especially if the local black cockatoos are cruising by. The Bay of Fires has at least 35,000 years of controlled burns - it feels like the trees have evolved for this.

So on the practical side we are extracting timber for future warmth. By the end of next week we will have nine years of timber neatly stacked behind the wood shed. Just add chainsaw and axe for instant warmth.

A nod to the ole crew at DSV - the chainsaw is better than a watch any day!

Of course that is just a small snapshot of what we weave into our days on the East Coast of Tasmania, Australia. You can’t help but stare out to the Tasman Sea for whales from the deck of The Ship. So, it is a Ship. But a steady one.

Thank you for reading my ramblings again.

Cheerio

The Captain.