Seatrade Europe delegates express sympathy for Irma victimsSeatrade Europe delegates express sympathy for Irma victims

Andreas Chrysostomou, VP governmental & public affairs for CLIA Europe, spoke of the hurricane's massive destruction and expressed everyone's concern for the victims prior to the start of a conference session.

Chrysostomou also expressed the hope that Hurricane Irma will not cause further catastrophic impact.

Numerous Caribbean cruise industry representatives from various destinations including some of the islands hardest hit by the hurricane are attending Seatrade Europe as part of the Caribbean Village, a long-time joint marketing effort by the destinations, and with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's first presence at the event, part of a new joint initiative with Cruise Lines International Association.

In conjunction with the Seatrade Cruise Awards 2017, the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority was recognized Wednesday night as Port of the Year. Irma, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded, is reported to have caused heavy damage in BVI.