The cruise ship “MV Hondius” lies in port on Monday, May 11, 2026. Photo: Arturo Rodriguez/AP/dpa
Keystone
The disembarkation of the passengers and crew members of the cruise ship “Hondius” on Tenerife affected by hantavirus infections has been completed. A final group of 28 people left the ship under strict safety precautions. They were flown out in the evening on two planes to Eindhoven, as seen on Spanish TV station RTVE.
In order for the people to leave the ship, it still had to be moored to a pier. The reason was increasingly stormy winds, which would have made disembarkation from the “Hondius”, which had previously been anchored in the port, too risky, said Spain’s Health Minister Mónica García. Shortly after the people had disembarked, the “Hondius” set sail with a remaining crew to Rotterdam.
Tenerife is worried about infected rodents
The fact that the ship was now connected to land, even if only briefly, is likely to cause criticism on the island. The regional government of the Canary Islands had insisted in advance that the “Hondius” should not dock because it was concerned that mice with the hantavirus could come ashore. However, García had ruled this out, citing experts.
A passenger jet initially took off from Tenerife South Airport. According to García, 22 crew members of various nationalities were on board the “Hondius”. A German crew member was also on board, according to the Dutch Foreign Ministry.
The second aircraft was a smaller ambulance plane which, according to García, was to be used to fly out four Australians, a New Zealander and a Briton. This plane was also initially supposed to fly to Eindhoven.
Spain’s health minister expresses “pride”
Since Sunday, a total of 122 people have been flown ashore from the ship and then by plane to their home countries under strict safety precautions. García thanked everyone involved and expressed “pride” that Spain had been able to carry out such a complicated and “unique” operation. This was a great success.
The “Hondius” was expected to arrive in Rotterdam in a few days. Also on board is the body of the German woman who died at sea on May 3. The ship will then be thoroughly disinfected in the Netherlands.