Hondius cruise ship cleared to sail again after deadly hantavirus outbreak and Rotterdam quarantine
The MV Hondius has been authorized to resume service after Rotterdam health authorities confirmed the vessel was effectively cleaned and disinfected following a hantavirus outbreak that killed three passengers.
The cruise ship Hondius, which sparked global concern due to an onboard hantavirus outbreak, received authorization on Saturday to set sail again after being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The final approval came from the Rotterdam municipal health agency (GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond) following a final inspection on Friday.
From a public health perspective, there are no longer any obstacles to putting the Hondius into service.
The outbreak and evacuation
The MV Hondius was en route from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the Cape Verde archipelago when the outbreak disrupted its voyage. Three passengers died from the hantavirus, a rare virus for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment. The World Health Organization has counted 13 confirmed or probable cases linked to this episode, including the three deaths.
Passengers were evacuated to Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands before being repatriated by air to their respective countries. The Dutch-flagged vessel subsequently completed its journey to Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, on May 18, where the remaining crew was placed in quarantine.
Cleaning and inspection process
The cleaning process began on Tuesday of last week. An initial inspection by the GGD revealed shortcomings, prompting additional cleaning work. After those supplementary measures were completed, a final inspection was conducted on Friday. Infection prevention experts determined that the Hondius had been effectively cleaned and that disinfection had been carried out in accordance with established guidelines.
The Hondius has been effectively cleaned and the disinfection has been completed according to the guidelines.
Possible origin of the virus
The hantavirus may have reached the ship after a bird-watching excursion at a landfill site in Argentina, where passengers may have come into contact with rats, the possible source of the outbreak. Three passengers, including a Dutch couple, died from the Andes variant of the virus. Oceanwide Expeditions CEO Rémi Bouysset stated that all indications point to the virus not originating from the ship itself but rather being brought aboard by one of the passengers.
This is based on currently available medical and epidemiological information, including guidelines from WHO experts and relevant health authorities. The investigation into the exact location where the virus may have been contracted is still ongoing.
Return to service
Oceanwide Expeditions, the Vlissingen-based owner of the ship, had indicated earlier this week that the vessel would soon depart Rotterdam once inspections were completed. The company plans to resume its cruise program starting June 13. It is not yet known when the ship will leave Rotterdam for its home port of Vlissingen, where the shipping company is based. As of Saturday afternoon, the Hondius remained moored in a closed-off section of Rotterdam's port.
- Hondius arrives in Rotterdam; remaining crew placed in quarantine.
- Cleaning process begins on the vessel in Rotterdam port.
- GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond conducts final inspection after additional cleaning.
- Health authorities declare ship virus-free and authorize return to service.
- Oceanwide Expeditions plans to resume scheduled cruises.
