Most crew members aboard MV Hondius to undergo quarantine in Rotterdam upon arrival

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Most crew members aboard MV Hondius to undergo quarantine in Rotterdam upon arrival

2026-05-16 15:36 Last Updated At：05-18 14:33

The Dutch government announced on Friday that the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to arrive at the Port of Rotterdam next Monday, with most crew members set to undergo a six-week quarantine in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Rotterdam has been designated in the Netherlands as the port for the handling of infectious diseases in shipping, according to a letter sent to parliament on Friday and signed by Sophie Hermans, Dutch minister of health, welfare and sport, and Tom Berendsen, the country's foreign minister.

According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the Dutch operator of the vessel, there are currently 27 people on board, including 25 crew members and two medical personnel. The group consists of 17 Filipinos, four Dutch nationals, four Ukrainians, one Russian, and one Polish national.

The ministers said that some crew members would enter home quarantine upon arrival, while those unable to return immediately to their home countries would be housed in designated quarantine facilities.

Regarding the vessel's 17 Filipino crew members, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) recommended that they remain in the Netherlands for the entire six-week quarantine period.

The letter said that the RIVM's recommendation followed careful consultations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and is in line with WHO guidance.

The vessel will also undergo cleaning by a specialized external company in accordance with RIVM guidelines, which incorporate WHO recommendations and are being implemented in close cooperation with the Rotterdam municipal health service.

Personal protective measures are being taken to ensure that the cleaners do not need to quarantine after the cleaning, the letter said. 　 According to the WHO, the cruise ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina, for Cape Verde on April 1. During the voyage, it experienced an outbreak of the Andes virus, a strain of the Hantavirus family.

DM spokesman on air force's strategic transformation

China's air force has entered a critical stage of strategic transformation with its capability comprehensively enhanced, said Chen Xi, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Chen made the remarks in response to the latest promotional video of Y-20, China's domestically developed large transport aircraft, which made the transformation and upgrading of the Chinese Air Force's strategic airlift capabilities a hot topic.

"In recent years, China's air force has entered a critical stage of strategic transformation featuring space-air-ground integration and balanced offense and defense. From the J-20, J-16, J-10 fighter families and other new fighter jets that strive for combat readiness, to the Y-20 series aircraft that expand flight track, and further to bombers and early warning aircraft that provide systemic support, the air force has continuously improved its strategic air and space strike capabilities, strategic early warning capabilities, air and space defense capabilities, and strategic airlift capabilities. The Chinese Air Force remains true to its founding mission, carries forward its revolutionary traditions and heritage, builds a forward-looking force system, accelerates its modernization, always acts as the 'Great Wall in the Blue Sky' to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and bravely serves as a steadfast guardian of China's airspace security and regional peace and stability," said Chen.