Clavijo: Ship will only anchor, not dock, in Tenerife

The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, explained that the cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak will not dock at the port of Granadilla (Tenerife). Instead, the vessel will remain at anchor offshore, avoiding contact with the Canary coasts. Passengers will be transferred to small boats and later taken to the airport.

Clavijo made the statement after a meeting with Health Minister Mónica García and Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres.

“We have been told that the ship will not dock under any circumstances, it will only anchor. This is very good news because it reduces potential vectors of infection and risk. Consequently, the evacuation of those passengers will be carried out with a launch or a mother‑ship that can pick them up, transport them, and bring them to the airport,” he detailed.

“Under no circumstances will passengers leave the ship until an aircraft is ready at the airport, and the process will be carried out with all necessary guarantees to avoid any type of contagion or transmission,” he added.