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Glossary · Context

MV Hondius

Polar expedition vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, at the origin of the April-May 2026 Andes hantavirus cluster between Ushuaia and Tenerife (Granadilla de Abona).

Also called : Hondius, M/V Hondius Context

MV Hondius is a polar expedition vessel operated by the Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions. Built in 2019, it is at the centre of the April-May 2026 hantavirus event — the first known Andes virus cluster aboard a vessel at sea. This glossary page summarises the vessel's identity; the full details of the event and complete timeline are on the dedicated /ship/ page.

Vessel identity

Technical characteristics

Field Value
Name MV Hondius
Flag Netherlands
Operator Oceanwide Expeditions
Builder Brodosplit (Croatia)
In service 2019
IMO number 9818709
Passenger capacity 196 (in 95 cabins)
Crew complement 72
Ice classification Polar Class 6 (world's first vessel certified from design)
Propulsion 2 ABC diesel engines, total power 4.3 MW

Distinctive feature

MV Hondius is the world's first vessel designed and certified Polar Class 6 from the outset, making it one of the expedition vessels most suited to navigating polar waters in the presence of thin ice. This characteristic explains its use for expedition cruises to Antarctica, South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, Tristan da Cunha, the Norwegian Arctic and Svalbard.

Relevance for HantaTracker

The April-May 2026 voyage

The voyage that gave rise to the hantavirus event:

  • 1 April 2026: departure from Ushuaia, Argentina
  • Itinerary: Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, Cape Verde (entry refused), Tenerife (Granadilla de Abona)
  • 10 May 2026: arrival at Granadilla de Abona port, Tenerife (Spain) at 06:24 local time; captain Jan Dobrogowski
  • 149 people on board (passengers + crew), 23 nationalities
  • 8 cases of hantavirus, 3 deaths, 10 countries under contact tracing

Contamination hypothesis

According to health authorities, the first patients were likely infected before boarding, during stays in South America (Argentina, Chile) where Andes virus is endemic. Continued person-to-person transmission on board, raised by WHO on 7 May 2026, is consistent with the known characteristics of Andes virus — the only hantavirus for which such transmission is documented.

Operational response

The vessel cooperated with health authorities from the moment the pathogen was identified: reporting to WHO, requests for berthing authorisation at several ports, hosting the health assessment and coordinating with embassies for the repatriation of passengers. The final disembarkation in Tenerife (Granadilla de Abona port, south coast) took place under WHO/ECDC coordination with PPE (FFP2) worn by medical teams and symptomatic passengers.

Learn more

Key figures

Standards & references

  • IMO 9818709 — Permanent vessel identification number at the International Maritime Organization.

Frequently asked questions

What is MV Hondius?

MV Hondius is a polar expedition vessel operated by the Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions. Built in 2019 by Croatian shipyard Brodosplit, it carries up to 196 passengers and 72 crew. Specialised in expedition cruises to Antarctica, the Arctic and the South Atlantic, it is the world's first vessel certified Polar Class 6 from design.

Why is MV Hondius in the news?

During a repositioning voyage that left Ushuaia (Argentina) on 1 April 2026 and arrived at the port of Granadilla de Abona in Tenerife (Spain) on 10 May 2026, several cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome were identified on board. The causative agent — Andes virus — was confirmed by PCR on 3 May 2026. As of 10 May 2026: 8 cases (6 confirmed, 2 probable), 3 deaths. This is the first known event of an Andes hantavirus cluster aboard a vessel at sea.

Is MV Hondius under quarantine?

No. After disembarkation at Granadilla de Abona port (Tenerife) on 10 May 2026 under WHO/ECDC coordination, passengers and crew received medical care and were repatriated to their respective countries with a 42-day individual surveillance protocol. The vessel itself is undergoing thorough cleaning consistent with health recommendations.

Who is responsible for the event?

No particular responsibility has been established to date. Health authorities consider that the first patients were infected before boarding, during stays in South America where Andes virus is endemic. Suspected secondary person-to-person transmission on board (raised by WHO on 7 May 2026) does not stem from any identified operational fault by Oceanwide Expeditions, which cooperated with health authorities from the moment the pathogen was identified.

Further reading