The Spanish island of Tenerife is preparing for the arrival of the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has experienced an outbreak of hantavirus. The vessel’s approach has been met with a combination of public concern and anger among some residents, despite assurances from authorities. The Spanish government, in agreement with the International Health Organization, has authorized the disembarkation of passengers this weekend, following the ship’s journey from Cape Verde, where three individuals were previously evacuated due to illness.

The planned arrival sparked protests, particularly among dock workers in Santa Cruz, who gathered outside the Canary Islands’ parliament building on Friday. Demonstrators voiced significant health and safety concerns, emphasizing a perceived lack of adequate protective measures and information. Joana Batista, a representative of a local port workers’ union, highlighted their apprehension about working near an infected vessel without special protocols. Some workers have even threatened to blockade the ship’s arrival if their demands for robust safety measures and clear communication are not met. Local residents, like nutritionist María de la Luz Sedeño, echoed these sentiments, expressing frustration over what they view as a disregard for local opposition, including that voiced by Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo.

In response to the growing criticism regarding transparency and high-handedness, the central government has detailed its plan for the ship’s arrival. The MV Hondius will not dock directly in Tenerife but will anchor offshore. Passengers will then be ferried to the vast industrial port of Granadilla, located in the island’s southeast, significantly removed from residential areas. Upon arrival, most passengers will be repatriated, while the 14 Spanish nationals aboard will be transported to Madrid for quarantine. Authorities, including the head of Spain’s civil protection agency, have strongly affirmed that there will be no contact between passengers and local residents, asserting that islanders will be “absolutely and completely protected.”

These detailed measures have somewhat appeased a segment of the island’s population. Pensioner Marialaina Retina Fern noted a degree of calm after receiving more information, expressing resignation to the situation while trusting the authorities to prevent infection. The incident, however, has drawn comparisons from some, including the far-right Vox party, to other complex international situations, such as migrant arrivals. For many Canary islanders, the cruise ship serves as an unwelcome reminder of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, recalling the detection of Spain’s first case on La Gomera and subsequent hotel quarantines in Tenerife. Despite these challenges, some residents view their islands as resilient, accustomed to managing international crises.