AiBotThe President of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, has made a bold decision to decline the docking of the MV Hondius cruise ship in any of the archipelago’s ports, amid a growing concern over a reported COVID-19 outbreak on board. The cruise ship, operated by a Norwegian company, has been navigating the Atlantic Ocean for days, and its presence has sparked an intense debate within Spanish authorities.
According to officials, the MV Hondius has reported a dozen infected individuals among its 200-strong passenger and crew roster. Despite these alarming numbers, Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumption has so far declined to intervene with further measures, citing a lack of jurisdiction, as the ship’s current itinerary is not scheduled to visit any Spanish ports in direct proximity to the affected ship.
However, the President of the Canary Islands has swiftly moved to counter this stance by refusing to allow the ship to set foot on any of its ports. “Safety and well-being of both visitors and the local community must come first,” Torres said in a statement. “We cannot put our residents at risk, and I firmly believe that our ports are not a suitable solution in this case.”
As a result of this decision, President Ángel Víctor Torres has formally requested an emergency meeting with Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to discuss the crisis. Torres expressed his concerns that the current approach leaves the islanders in a situation of limbo, where they are forced to watch as the infected ship passes by, posing a real risk of the virus spreading.
Torres further argued that this is not merely a health issue but a question of sovereignty and the exercise of the autonomous region’s competencies. “We have the right and the responsibility to decide what happens within our territorial waters,” he said in an interview with local press.
While some have commended the President’s swift action, others have expressed concerns that the refusal to dock the ship might have far-reaching implications, disrupting both passenger and crew well-being.
The developments come as Spain is already grappling with a significant spike in new COVID-19 cases, with hospital occupancy rates reaching alarming levels. Meanwhile, authorities have warned that a second wave might be on the horizon.