01.06.2026 19:50
Disinfection operations have been completed on the Dutch-flagged passenger ship "MV Hondius," which caused panic worldwide due to hantavirus cases. The ship's operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, announced that it has received renewed operational permission from the Dutch Public Health Institute, the former crew is in quarantine, and a new zero-contact team has started duty. After maintenance, the giant vessel will depart Rotterdam on June 6 and embark on its first tourist voyage of the Arctic season on June 13.
The nightmare has ended on the Dutch-flagged passenger ship "MV Hondius", which has been closely followed with great concern worldwide for weeks and has made international headlines due to hantavirus cases. It has been reported that the intensive cleaning and disinfection processes carried out on the ship have been successfully completed, and the floating hotel will resume its voyages.
QUICK APPROVAL AND OPERATION PERMIT FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTION
An official statement on the matter was made by Oceanwide Expeditions, the company operating the ship. The statement indicated that officials from the Dutch Public Health Institution (GGD) conducted a very strict inspection on the ship on May 29. It was stated that no risky elements were found after the inspections, and the ship was granted an operation permit again as of May 30.
FORMER CREW IN QUARANTINE, NEW ZERO-CONTACT TEAM ON DUTY
Radical measures were taken on the ship to prevent the spread of the virus. The company announced that all crew members who served on the previous voyage where hantavirus cases were detected have been completely evacuated from the ship and placed in safe quarantine. It was stated that the new personnel urgently assigned to the ship have had no contact with the quarantined former employees and have undergone health checks.
FROM ROTTERDAM TO THE NORTH POLE: ROUTE ANNOUNCED
The "MV Hondius", leaving behind days of fear, is now counting down to its new voyage. After the completion of annual maintenance, repairs, and final hygiene checks at the Port of Rotterdam, the ship will depart on June 6 towards the city of Longyearbyen in Norway's Svalbard archipelago.
FIRST TOURIST VOYAGE OF THE ARCTIC SEASON ON JUNE 13
The giant passenger ship, which has overcome the hantavirus crisis, will once again carry adventure enthusiasts to the North Pole. The statement noted that the "MV Hondius" will set sail from Longyearbyen port towards the glaciers on June 13 for the eagerly awaited first tourist voyage of the Arctic season.