tenerife cruise ship hantavirus docking request

Tenerife port receives docking request for hantavirus-hit cruise ship

Port receives formal docking request

The Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife received a docking request on Wednesday for the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been affected by a hantavirus outbreak. The vessel is scheduled to arrive on Saturday 9 May at 12:00.

The request marks a significant shift in the handling of the case, after the Port Authority indicated earlier in the day that no formal docking application had yet been submitted.

Vessel to anchor initially pending authorisation

According to information provided by the Port Authority, the ship will be handled by Gibunco Ship Agency S.L. and will initially remain at anchor. Docking will not be automatic: it will depend on clearance from the Spanish Foreign Health Service (Sanidad Exterior) and the Maritime Captaincy (Capitanía Marítima).

The docking request lists the vessel’s estimated arrival as midday on Saturday 9 May, but the cruise ship will not be allowed to berth until the relevant authorities have established the appropriate maritime safety and health conditions.

Health protocol to be activated if permission granted

If permission is granted, the corresponding health protocol will be activated to deal with the situation on board. The vessel remains linked to a hantavirus outbreak that occurred during its Atlantic crossing.

Multiple authorities to decide on docking conditions

The Port Authority has stressed that docking a ship in such circumstances does not depend solely on the port. Authorisation must go through the Foreign Health Service, which is responsible for assessing health risks, and the Maritime Captaincy, which oversees conditions relating to maritime safety.

These bodies will determine whether the vessel can dock, under what conditions, and what control measures will be required.

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