It was a year gone terribly wrong, for the world and for shipping stocks trading in the US.

2020 launched with high hopes built on a profitable 2019 and optimism that the IMO 2020 sulphur cap regime would help provide ­sustainable upside for freight rates and New York listings.

But it all came crashing down in the first three months as corona­virus ravaged global demand and the fortunes of shipowners so dependent on it.