The health operation at the port of Granadilla reached its critical point this Monday when the cruise ship MV Hondius, after facing adverse weather conditions, docked at the southern pier. The decision to dock was prompted by intense wind gusts and heavy swells, which prevented a safe disembarkation at the anchorage.
With the vessel now moored, the Guardia Civil took control of the operation, proceeding with the evacuation of the 28 passengers and crew members who were still on board. Before they set foot on land, personnel boarded the ship to conduct a final health check, which included taking temperatures and distributing personal protective equipment.
The scene at the port of Granadilla was one of technical precision: the evacuees carried their essential belongings in plastic bags to minimize any risk of contamination.
The disembarkation took place directly at the pier, which implied a change in protocol. Evacuees descended in a single file, maintaining one meter of separation between them and wearing masks. After disembarking, they were transported in three UME buses, escorted by security forces, to Tenerife South Airport.
Two chartered flights were arranged to repatriate this last group to the Netherlands. The first flight carried 22 people, including 19 crew members (Filipino, German, and one Dutch), a doctor, and two epidemiologists. The second flight transported 6 passengers (Australians, one New Zealander, and a British resident in Australia), who will undergo preventive quarantine near Eindhoven airport.
Once the buses left the port area, the MV Hondius, guarded by the remaining 26 crew members, set sail for Rotterdam at 7:00 PM. With the cruise ship's departure, the port of Granadilla was cleared, making way for deep disinfection work in transit areas by biological risk experts, thus allowing the port infrastructure to resume normal operations after 48 hours of alert.
