Oceanwide Expeditions has confirmed that the planned deep cleaning and disinfection programme aboard m/v Hondius has been completed in Rotterdam and that the vessel has received clearance to return to operational status following inspection by Dutch public health authorities.
The vessel underwent assessment on May 29th and received formal approval on May 30th from officials of the Rotterdam public health authority, enabling preparations to proceed for scheduled maintenance and annual survey work before the ship’s planned departure for Longyearbyen on June 6th.
The operation was conducted through coordinated planning involving public health authorities, maritime regulators, port stakeholders and specialist contractors, with a structured treatment and clearance process established to ensure compliance with applicable health and operational requirements. The complexity of the undertaking reflected the need to deliver a controlled biosecurity response within a compressed timeframe while maintaining operational discipline.
A specialist team of thirteen biosecurity professionals from EWS Group carried out the work across all eight decks of the vessel. Following initial inspection and assessment, the vessel was confirmed rodent-free by qualified third-party personnel before treatment proceeded.
The cleaning phase focused first on removing residual organic material, after which all hard surfaces underwent disinfection using approved products and hydrogen peroxide applications. Soft furnishings and selected surfaces received high-temperature steam treatment. Throughout the process, personnel operated under strict protective protocols and maintained separation between clean and contaminated zones to preserve procedural integrity.
EWS Group’s representatives noted that while the technical scope of the treatment was extensive, the decisive factor behind completion lay in the coordinated effort between operators, authorities and specialist contractors. The operation demonstrated how biosecurity measures can be executed within a tightly managed maritime environment without compromising vessel readiness.
Following completion of treatment, inspection and verification, local GGD authorities issued official clearance stating that the vessel had been effectively cleaned and disinfected in accordance with prescribed procedures and that there were no public health objections to resuming service.
Oceanwide Expeditions expressed appreciation for the professionalism demonstrated by all parties involved and acknowledged the operational expertise contributed by specialist partners during the restoration process.
The company further clarified that epidemiological findings indicated the hantavirus exposure originated before embarkation and was not linked to the vessel itself or onboard operational standards. With the completion of the deep cleaning and disinfection process, the possibility of future transmission through the ship environment was considered eliminated.
Crew changes have since taken place, and personnel associated with the previous voyage remain in quarantine off the vessel. The newly assigned crew has had no contact with quarantined individuals.
With clearance secured, Hondius now enters a final phase of maintenance and preparation before resuming expedition operations in the Arctic. The vessel is scheduled to depart Rotterdam on June 6th and later begin its Arctic season from Longyearbyen on June 13th, continuing its planned deployment in polar waters.