The 20th annual Transpacific Maritime (TPM) conference was cancelled over the weekend due to fears over the spread of coronavirus.
The event, which had been scheduled to be held in Long Beach on 1 to 4 March, marks the biggest cancellation of an international shipping event outside of Asia due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
"This decision was made following recent guidance from health officials and in light of the rapid growth in global cases of Covid-19, in particular in the Western United States over the past 24 hours, as well as increasing travel restrictions and other circumstances," according to IHS Markit, the conference organiser.
The associated El Dorado tech event, the company said on Twitter..
IHS Markit said it will shortly announce arrangements for refunds or re-arranging registrations and sponsorships to the next TPM conference.
“This decision has been made with input from our customers and partners and we are very grateful for their support in what has been a very difficult decision, “ IHS Markit added.
Major outfits
TPM was to feature speakers from CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, among others.
The cancellation comes after a number of shipping events, including Singapore Maritime Week, were postponed last week amid fears about the spread of the new, deadly virus among large groups of people gathering together.
IHS Markit's decision reached beyond shipping.
The company also scrapped its major CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, scheduled for 9 to 13 March.
The consultancy and media company pointed to the World Health Organization's decision to raise the threat level on Friday, as well as the increasing number of companies that are instituting travel bans.
"Our number one concern is the health and safety of delegates and speakers, our partners, our colleagues and vendors," the company said.
IHS Markit also cancelled its World Petrochemicals Conference in New Orleans, scheduled for 24 to 27 March, which including a transportation focus with speakers from Mediterranean Shipping Co, Metro Group Maritime and GTT.
The US has seen 88 reported cases of Covid-19, including two deaths.
