The Hondius set sail from Granadilla, Tenerife, at 19:00 local time on May 11, heading for Rotterdam, with an expected arrival on the evening of May 17, as reported by Oceanwide Expeditions. A total of 122 individuals, including 35 crew members and 87 passengers, have been repatriated to their home countries and the Netherlands. Currently, the vessel has 25 crew members onboard, along with two medical professionals from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, bringing the total to 27 individuals aboard.
Notably, the body of a German passenger who passed away on May 2 remains on the ship, with plans for repatriation coordinated by Oceanwide Expeditions upon arrival in the Netherlands. All passengers’ luggage is still onboard and will be returned in Rotterdam. Upon arrival, the Hondius will undergo sanitation, with cleaning protocols being developed in consultation with several health authorities, including the WHO and the Dutch Ministry of Health.
In a concerning development, a French woman evacuated from the vessel tested positive for hantavirus and is in critical condition. She initially reported flu-like symptoms, which were misattributed to anxiety by onboard doctors. French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist confirmed she was one of five French passengers who left the ship recently and is now receiving treatment in a specialized hospital. Contact tracing has identified 22 individuals in France who may have been exposed, and the WHO has warned of potential new cases due to the virus’s lengthy incubation period.
