Posidonia Postponed

LONDON, March 17 (Reuters) – Posidonia, one of the world’s biggest shipping exhibitions due to have been held in June, has been postponed until late October due to the coronavirus, the organisers said on Tuesday.

Greece has reported 352 confirmed cases of infections and four fatalities. Authorities have closed restaurants, bars, retail shops, playgrounds, schools, universities and gyms to stem the spread of the virus.

Posidonia is held every two years with the entire shipping industry convening in Athens.

“In view of the escalating challenges we all face as a result of the coronavirus-COVID-19 pandemic and the need to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our exhibitors and visitors while at the same time complying with WHO and Greek government guidelines, we have decided to postpone Posidonia 2020,” the organisers said, adding that the event will now be held between Oct. 26-30.

Other major industry events including Singapore Maritime Week, CMA Shipping in Connecticut, Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, and the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, have all been postponed. The U.N.shipping agency has closed its London headquarters and has also postponed the March session of its environmental committee, which was due to meet for discussions on cutting carbon emissions from the sector. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul; editing by Nick Macfie)