MIGRANT Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac confirmed Sunday that all 38 Filipino crew members of the vessel MV Hondius will undergo a mandatory six-week or 40-day quarantine and monitoring period in the Netherlands.
The decision was announced during a virtual press briefing on May 10, stressing that the measure is strictly implemented to comply with international health and safety standards following reports of a Hantavirus outbreak on board that earlier claimed the lives of three passengers.
The MV Hondius is a state-of-the-art Polar Class 6 expedition ship launched in 2019, designed for scientific research and extreme nature excursions. The vessel departed on April 1, 2026, from Ushuaia, Argentina, for a specialized voyage across the South Atlantic, with an itinerary that included remote destinations like the South Shetland Islands, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, and Saint Helena. However, the trip was cut short due to the health emergency, leading to the vessel’s diversion to Tenerife, Spain, to evacuate passengers before proceeding to its next destination.
Secretary Cacdac clarified that despite the outbreak, all 38 Filipino seafarers—comprising 24 hotel crew members and 14 personnel from the deck and engine departments—have tested negative for the virus. Nevertheless, authorities are taking no chances and will subject them to rigorous health monitoring to ensure their well-being and prevent any possible transmission. The workers will remain under strict medical observation throughout their isolation period in the Netherlands, adhering to protocols designed to combat the Andes strain of the virus.
To ensure the welfare of the seafarers, Cacdac assured that they will receive full compensation, including their regular salaries and benefits as stipulated in their employment contracts. The Philippine government, through the DMW, Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), is also providing additional financial assistance via the Action Fund and other support programs. Working closely with the ship’s principal and local manning agency, the agencies remain committed to protecting the rights, health, and safety of the Filipino crew amid this challenging situation.
