The Note had the pleasure of chatting to Chicago-based Avi Eilon from Hudson Shipping, a joint venture partner in United Bulk Carriers with CBH Group’s grain marketing arm Grain Pool. Mr Eilon, whose dad Ike retired to Perth many years ago, said the cost of chartering a cargo vessel had plunged to 8 per cent of recent highs, or less than they had been paying a year ago. That was a positive for the American, who was returning to the Windy City the day after his candidate lost the US presidential poll.