The biennial Posidonia international shipping exhibition has been postponed to the last week in October 2020
Event organisers Posidonia Exhibitions said they took the decision based on the need to safeguard the health and wellbeing of exhibitors and visitors due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a pandemic.
They said consideration had been given to the pressure exhibitors and visitors are under with regard to travel and logistical arrangements as well as transporting exhibition materials.
Posidonia’s statement said organisers will comply with WHO and Greek Government guidelines.
Posidonia 2020, which had been scheduled to begin 1 June 2020, will now take place from 26 October to 30 October 2020 at the Athens Metropolitan Expo in Greece, together with all related Posidonia seminars, sporting events and conferences.
Organisers said “We have taken this step in consultation with Posidonia’s supporting organisations who have confirmed their agreement and support for the October dates.”
Posidonia is organised with the support of Greece’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, the Union of Greek Shipowners, and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, and with the support of the Municipality of Piraeus and the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee.
The event’s organisers said they will reveal further details of the October schedule on the Posidonia website over the coming days.
Posidonia 2020 is the latest high profile event that has been affected by the global outbreak. IMO has postponed MEPC 75 in addition to other meetings. The International Partnering Forum (IPF) has also been postponed while the annual Transpacific Maritime Conference (TMC) in California was cancelled.