Tensions are rising in Tenerife as the hantavirus-affected cruise ship MV Hondius approaches the Spanish island, sparking protests, public anxiety, and political controversy.
The vessel, which experienced a hantavirus outbreak during its voyage, is expected to arrive this weekend after Spanish authorities agreed with the World Health Organization to allow passengers to disembark under strict health protocols.
Concerns intensified Friday when dock workers gathered outside the Canary Islands parliament building in Santa Cruz to protest the ship’s arrival. Demonstrators blew whistles, sounded vuvuzelas, and carried banners demanding stronger health protections and clearer communication from authorities.
Union representative Joana Batista said port workers were worried about being exposed to potential health risks without adequate safety measures or proper information.
Some workers have even threatened to block the ship from arriving unless authorities guarantee stricter precautions for those involved in handling passengers and operations at the port.
The controversy has also exposed wider frustrations among some Canary Islanders, with residents linking the issue to broader concerns about migration pressures and how the islands often become focal points for international humanitarian and public health crises.
Nutritionist María de la Luz Sedeño criticized Spain’s central government for approving the ship’s arrival despite objections from Fernando Clavijo, arguing that local residents were not being properly consulted.
Spanish authorities have attempted to calm fears by outlining detailed containment plans. Officials said MV Hondius will remain offshore rather than docking directly in Tenerife. Passengers will instead be ferried to the industrial port of Granadilla, located away from residential communities.
According to Spain’s civil protection agency, passengers will be rapidly transported for repatriation, while the 14 Spanish nationals onboard will be flown to Madrid for quarantine procedures.
Virginia Barcones, head of Spain’s civil protection agency, insisted that local residents would be “absolutely and completely protected” throughout the operation.
The situation has revived memories of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic for many islanders. Tenerife and nearby La Gomera were among the first Spanish territories impacted during the outbreak in 2020, including the quarantine of hundreds of hotel guests after Spain’s first confirmed case was identified in the Canary Islands.
Despite the fears, some residents expressed cautious confidence in local authorities and healthcare systems, saying the islands have experience managing international emergencies.
The arrival of MV Hondius has also become a political flashpoint, with the far-right Vox party criticizing the government’s handling of the situation and comparing it to migration policies affecting the Canary Islands.
Health officials and the WHO continue stressing that hantavirus is not comparable to COVID-19 and that the risk of widespread transmission remains low.