en.Wedoany.com Reported - The expedition cruise ship Hondius has departed the port of Rotterdam after completing quarantine for a Hantavirus outbreak, resuming its Arctic voyage to Norway's Svalbard archipelago.

The vessel was docked in Rotterdam for nearly three weeks. The Netherlands, as the ship's flag state, was responsible for receiving and managing the vessel, with the Port of Rotterdam designated as a port of refuge. Due to the Hantavirus outbreak on board, the Port of Rotterdam used the ship as a quarantine facility. The Municipal Health Service (GGD), Port of Rotterdam Authority, Veiligheidsregio Rotterdam-Rijnmond, the Municipality of Rotterdam, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), and the shipping company Oceanwide Expeditions collaborated to rapidly establish a quarantine center in Europoort, featuring a testing area, at a safe distance from residential areas and posing no risk to the surrounding environment.

All 27 people on board were tested upon arrival, all results were negative, and they were subsequently quarantined, with some accommodated in specially prepared housing in Europoort. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and Erasmus MC conducted research on the ship to enhance understanding of the virus. A specialized company carried out intensive cleaning and disinfection over several days using personal protective equipment under strict safety measures.

Since May 31, the Hondius has been undergoing routine maintenance in the Waalhaven. Boudewijn Seijn, Operations Director of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, presented a traditional port plaque to Captain Remmert Koster, which is typically awarded on special occasions or when a vessel visits the Port of Rotterdam for the first time.

The Hondius has now set sail for Norway's Svalbard archipelago, where it will resume its Arctic expedition cruise itinerary.

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