Statement from Rémi Bouysset, CEO of Oceanwide Expeditions, regarding the hantavirus cluster of cases aboard m/v Hondius
by Oceanwide Expeditions
News 19.05.2026
Vlissingen, 19 May 2026
Over the past weeks, Oceanwide Expeditions has faced one of the most difficult situations in our company’s history.
First and foremost, this was and remains a human tragedy. Three individuals lost their lives. Several others became seriously ill after contracting the virus, with some requiring urgent medical intervention and evacuation under extremely challenging circumstances. At the time of writing, several affected individuals remain hospitalized, including some still in critical condition, while many guests and crew members remain under quarantine and medical monitoring.
Beyond those directly affected, the situation has weighed heavily on guests, crew members, expedition staff, families, and friends. Throughout this entire period, our thoughts have remained with them.
From the beginning, our priority was to support those affected, work closely with medical authorities and experts, and manage the situation responsibly and calmly through three constant priorities: medical response, operational coordination, and transparent communication.
The indications strongly suggest that the virus was introduced prior to embarkation and did not originate from the vessel itself. This is based on the medical and epidemiological information currently available, including guidance from WHO experts and relevant health authorities. Investigations remain ongoing regarding the exact location where the virus may have been contracted.
At this stage, there is no indication that the source of infection was linked to the vessel’s condition or to Oceanwide Expeditions’ onboard operations. We maintain strict pest-control and biosecurity procedures onboard our vessels, including regular inspections and monitoring. These were performed during this voyage, which began on 1 April,
with no evidence of rodents or pests being present throughout.
What initially appeared to be an isolated medical situation evolved into a far more serious and complex event, requiring the rapid building of an international coalition and the full activation of crisis management procedures.
Our response evolved around three operational phases:
Phase 1: Emergency medical stabilization and evacuation operations in Cape Verde;
Phase 2: Controlled disembarkation, screening, quarantine, and transition operations in the Canary Islands;
Phase 3: Vessel transit to Rotterdam, vessel sanitization, crew transition, operational restart, resilience, and lessons learned.
Under the guidance and support of WHO experts, RIVM, local authorities in Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, embassies, hospitals, aviation partners, maritime authorities, and the foreign ministries of multiple countries, medical evacuations, quarantine procedures, and disembarkation operations were organized.
Throughout this period, our teams onboard and ashore worked continuously to support guests and crew, coordinate evacuations and logistics, communicate with families and authorities, and ensure that decisions remained guided by verified facts and expert medical advice.
From the outset, we made a deliberate decision to only communicate verified information through daily press release(s) and to avoid speculations. Throughout this situation, we have continued to rely on the guidance of medical experts and authorities for assessment and decision-making.
Under very difficult and emotional circumstances, many people across Oceanwide Expeditions showed calmness, professionalism, resilience, discipline, and care for others. I would especially like to acknowledge Captain Jan Dobrogowski, Expedition Leader Hans Verdaat, the teams onboard
m/v Hondius, and our crisis coordination teams ashore in Vlissingen. I also want to sincerely thank the guests onboard for their patience and cooperation throughout this period.
We are now in Phase 3.
m/v Hondius safely arrived in Rotterdam yesterday, 18 May 2026. The remaining crew are being disembarked under the applicable guidance and procedures, and the repatriation of the deceased individual who remained on board will take place with the greatest care and respect.
The vessel will now undergo a complete cleaning and sanitization process, together with the full implementation of additional protocols, procedures, and a complete crew transition before returning to operations. We want to take the necessary time to complete every step properly and responsibly.
We will ensure that
m/v Hondius returns to the field fully prepared and with the highest possible standards of safety and operational readiness,
with the continuation of our Arctic season currently planned for 13 June. Like any company facing an exceptional situation, Oceanwide Expeditions has been impacted over recent weeks. However, we remain resilient, focused, and financially solid. Since our foundation in 1993, we have navigated challenging periods before, always by staying close to our values: serious operations, small-ship expeditions, experienced people, and long-term thinking.
Today is no different. More than 30 years after our first voyages, our commitment to the field, to our partners, and to our guests remains as strong as ever.
We will continue to review this event carefully together with the relevant experts and authorities and take the lessons from it seriously.
We operate in some of the most remote regions on earth. That comes with responsibility toward our guests, crew, partners, and the environments we explore. Situations like these remind us of the importance of preparation, teamwork, experience, and calm decision-making under pressure.
Our focus now is on supporting those affected, allowing teams to recover, completing the remaining procedures responsibly, and preparing for the next phase.
I have always believed in one simple principle: do the right thing and do things right. In a highly complex and high-pressure situation, where decisions carry real human consequences, that principle matters more than ever.
Rémi Bouysset
CEO — Oceanwide Expeditions
https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/b...4IKcsqeQQpOGxTLgD1kO8LlhNy0t_iX5zuWrhC7v4eC5
