One of the shipping industry's best known equity analysts has contracted the Covid-19 virtus.
Stifel's Ben Nolan disclosed his diagnosis as he soldiered through moderator's duty Monday on a panel during Capital Link's New York shipping forum, which ironically had been moved online from its usual Manhattan location because of coronavirus restrictions.
In an email exchange with TradeWinds, Nolan appered to be in his usual good humour despite the illness.
"I had just sucked down some cough syrup which does the trick in small increments," he said.
"Thankfully, mine is not one of the more severe cases and I think I am on the mend. It definitely has been a less-than-optimal few weeks though."
The Chicago-based Nolan said he did not know where or how he was contaminated, but confirmed the result with testing at the middle of last week.
"The tough part is the pulmonary stuff," he said. "It's hard to breathe, can't talk without coughing, stuff like that. I fortunately have only had minor fever and aches."
The chance to moderate a panel, even a virtual one, may have come as a welcome distraction.
"The other big challenge is being locked up in a room by myself," he said. "I'm probably going to look like the Unabomber when I finally get out of here," Nolan said, referring to a hirsute former US terrorist.
Nolan joins prominent shipping figures such as Greek shipowner Evangelos Marinakis and Diana Shipping founder Simeon Palios as confirmed sufferers of the virus.
