A cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak will only anchor off the Canary Islands before passengers are taken off, lowering the risk of further infections, the Spanish archipelago’s regional leader said Thursday.
The fate of the MV Hondius has sparked international alarm since it emerged three people on the vessel died since it left Argentina in April.
While the ship was not allowed to dock in Cape Verde, health officials have played down fears of a wider global outbreak.
The MV Hondius is now heading to the Canaries after three people were removed off Cape Verde on Wednesday, with evacuations of the remaining passengers and crew scheduled to begin in Tenerife on May 11.
But the islands’ regional authority has bristled at the central government over the reception of the vessel.
After talks with the government in Madrid on Thursday, Canaries leader Fernando Clavijo told reporters that “the ship will not dock under any circumstances, it will only anchor” offshore.
“We think it’s very good news because possible vectors of infection and risk decrease.”
Other boats will be used to transfer passengers from the ship to the airport for their repatriation, added Clavijo.
“Under no circumstances will the passengers leave the ship until the aircraft is at the airport, and it will be done with full guarantees,” Clavijo said.
A health ministry statement added that Tenerife’s industrial port of Granadilla, where the MV Hondius is due to arrive this weekend, “is not prepared for the disembarkation of people”.
When the ship anchored off Cape Verde there were 149 people onboard, including 88 passengers, according to the operator.
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