The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has raised the alarm after learning that the cruise ship MV Hondius, with an active hantavirus outbreak on board, could be disinfected in the waters of the archipelago. During an interview, Clavijo confirmed that his conversation with the Minister of Health, Mónica García, was tense, as she did not clarify whether the ship would be treated in the region. The demand is clear: that the ship continue its course to the Netherlands with the same crew.
The technical dilemma of disinfecting a ship at sea 🧼
Disinfecting a vessel like the MV Hondius involves specific protocols that go beyond simple cleaning. It requires nebulization with vaporized hydrogen peroxide in all cabins and common areas, a process that can last up to 48 hours. Additionally, ventilation system filters must be replaced and ballast water analyzed. Without an authorized home port, carrying out this operation at sea is technically complex and costly, which explains the resistance of the Canary Islands authorities to assume the risk.
The ghost cruise ship no one wants in their port 🚢
It seems the MV Hondius has become the cursed ship of the seas, going from a luxury cruise to a floating plague that everyone avoids. Clavijo, like a nightclub bouncer, has told the ship: You're not coming in, continue your journey to Holland. The curious thing is that the same crew that could be infected is tasked with taking the virus back home. A perfect plan: if we don't disinfect it here, let them do it in the Netherlands, where surely the cold kills the bugs.