The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has declared that he will not be “tranquil” until all passengers from the Antarctic cruise vessel MV Hondius have been evacuated and flown to their respective countries of quarantine. In remarks given to El País during an unfolding emergency operation, Clavijo stressed that the situation is not a political dispute but rather a matter of administrative coordination, even as he acknowledged a strained and complex relationship with Spain’s central government over the handling of the incident.
The MV Hondius, carrying more than a hundred passengers and crew, is expected to arrive near the island of Tenerife in the early hours of Sunday. The operation to manage its arrival has rapidly evolved into a carefully coordinated international effort involving multiple governments, airlines, and health authorities, as well as oversight from the World Health Organization. Clavijo’s comments reflect mounting pressure on regional authorities to ensure that the disembarkation process proceeds without medical or logistical failures.
According to Clavijo, preparations are now in place for at least four or five aircraft to transport passengers to their home countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, and Spain. A separate European consortium aircraft will act as a contingency option for passengers who do not fall under bilateral arrangements. He emphasized that approximately 60 crew members are on board, around half of whom, mainly Filipino nationals, are expected to sail the vessel onward to the Netherlands, which will assume responsibility for them. One passenger has died on board and will remain on the ship, with disinfection procedures to be carried out once the vessel reaches Dutch jurisdiction.
The logistical complexity of the operation has made timing and sequencing critical. Clavijo confirmed that the ship will be anchored inside the harbor basin rather than offshore, as sea conditions outside the port make operations unsafe. However, he stressed that no passengers will disembark until all aircraft are already on the ground and fully prepared for immediate departure. Approximately 117 passengers are expected to be transferred from the vessel in stages using smaller boats.
Authorities have also ruled out the use of the ship’s own inflatable boats for disembarkation, citing concerns about contamination risks. Instead, external vessels will be deployed to transport passengers to shore. The exact number of boats and buses to be used remains under review, but four buses have already been designated to transport passengers from the port to the airport. A temporary command post will be established at the airport to ensure that each traveler is directed to the correct flight, while the Spanish central government will maintain a separate coordination hub at the dock.
Despite the scale of the operation, one of the most pressing issues for regional authorities has been the lack of detailed medical information about passengers on board. Clavijo confirmed that repeated requests for medical reports have gone unanswered. While he clarified that full medical histories are not required, he emphasized the need for regular updates every 12 hours to ensure rapid response capabilities in the event of deterioration among vulnerable individuals. He warned that without this information, emergency protocols such as the deployment of high-risk infectious disease units could be delayed.
The situation has also exposed tensions between regional and national authorities in Spain. Clavijo told El País that while communication with the central government has recently improved, there remains frustration over what he described as a lack of consultation when Spain initially assumed responsibility for the vessel’s handling. He argued that the decision to accept the cruise ship in Canary Islands territory was made without involving regional authorities, despite no legal obligation requiring Spain to do so. However, he also acknowledged that daily coordination meetings have now been established, helping to clarify operational uncertainties and improve cooperation.
The incident has attracted significant international attention, with senior officials expected to visit the islands during the operation. Spain’s Minister of Health, Mónica García, and Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, are scheduled to travel to Tenerife alongside Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Clavijo said he expects to meet them at the port of Granadilla, where coordination efforts will continue throughout the disembarkation process.
The presence of international health authorities underscores the sensitivity of the operation, which combines elements of maritime logistics, public health management, and cross-border passenger repatriation. Officials are particularly focused on preventing any potential spread of infectious disease, given the confined environment of the cruise ship and the presence of passengers from multiple countries.
Clavijo reiterated that his primary concern is ensuring that no passenger is transferred ashore without a confirmed flight ready for immediate departure. He said that while progress has been made and coordination has improved in recent days, he will only consider the operation successful once all individuals are safely en route to quarantine facilities in their home countries and the vessel has departed.
The Canary Islands leader’s remarks reflect the broader challenges of managing international emergencies that intersect with tourism, public health, and regional governance. The MV Hondius case has become a test of coordination between multiple governments and agencies under time-sensitive and medically sensitive conditions. While officials now express cautious optimism about the operational plan, Clavijo’s comments suggest that political and administrative tensions remain just beneath the surface.
As preparations continue, attention remains fixed on the harbor and airport infrastructure in Tenerife, where a tightly choreographed sequence of maritime transfers, ground transport, and international flights is set to unfold. For Clavijo, however, the measure of success is simple and absolute: only when every passenger is airborne and the ship has left Canary Islands waters will he finally consider the crisis resolved.
