The MV Hondius expedition cruise vessel, which temporarily suspended operations after the detection of the Andes strain of hantavirus on board, is expected to return to service in the coming days.
According to sea-news.az the ships operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, plans to resume voyages on June 13. The first expedition will depart from Longyearbyen in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago and follow an Arctic route.
Following the incident, the vessel was brought to the Port of Rotterdam, where extensive disinfection procedures were carried out. Specialists from the GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond public health authority conducted inspections and initially recommended additional sanitation measures. Subsequent assessments confirmed that all requirements had been met and that no remaining risks were preventing the vessel from returning to operation.
The Andes hantavirus is a potentially dangerous virus primarily transmitted by rodents and can cause severe respiratory illness. However, according to the relevant authorities, the disinfection and monitoring measures implemented aboard the vessel have eliminated any additional risk to passengers and crew.
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of biosafety protocols and sanitary control measures within the global cruise industry.
