After a stay of almost three weeks, the m/v Hondius left the Port of Rotterdam on Saturday evening. The expedition ship made global headlines after an outbreak of hantavirus was detected on board.
The ship came to Rotterdam because, as the flag state, the Netherlands is responsible for its reception and handling. The Port of Rotterdam acts as a so-called port of refuge for ships in distress. Specifically in the case of the Hondius, Rotterdam served as a quarantine port due to the outbreak of the infectious disease.
Also read: Virus-stricken cruise ship Hondius arrives in Rotterdam
‘Quarantine village’
Within a few days, a “quarantine village” was set up in Europoort, at a safe distance from residential areas and posing no risk to the surrounding area, complete with testing stations. This was achieved through close cooperation between the GGD, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Rotterdam-Rijnmond Safety Region, the Municipality of Rotterdam, the RIVM and the shipping company Oceanwide Expeditions.
The arrival at Europoort on Monday 18 May attracted significant international media interest, with over a hundred journalists from around the world able to follow the ship’s entry up close from a press boat and along the quay.
Testing and cleaning
All 27 people on board were tested upon arrival – with all results coming back negative – and were then placed in quarantine, some in specially fitted-out accommodation units in Europoort. The RIVM and Erasmus MC subsequently carried out investigations on board to gain a better understanding of the virus.
This was followed by an intensive, multi-day cleaning and disinfection operation carried out by a specialist company, under strict safety measures and using personal protective equipment.
Also read: Virus outbreak on Dutch cruise ship Hondius [UPDATED]
Maintenance, port plaque and departure
Since Sunday 31 May, the Hondius had been moored in the Waalhaven for routine maintenance. Boudewijn Seijn, operations manager at the Port of Rotterdam Authority, presented Captain Remmert Koster with the traditional port plaque there. Such a plaque is awarded on a special occasion or during a seagoing vessel’s first visit to the port of Rotterdam.
‘We have worked closely with many parties to handle this situation safely and professionally,’ said Seijn. ‘We wish the Hondius a safe journey.’
The Hondius is now setting course for Spitsbergen. There, the ship will resume its itinerary for an expedition cruise through the Arctic region.
Photo: Cruise ship Hondius leaving the Port of Rotterdam (photo Lex Bezemer).
