A friend of one of the 80-year-old Irish passengers on board the hantavirus-hit polar expedition cruise ship says she is “upbeat” and looking forward to finally coming back to Ireland.
Senator Aubrey McCarthy was speaking a few hours before Cork-born author Ann Lane and her travelling companion arrived at the main harbour at Tenerife around 5.30am.
The MV Hondius they are aboard was escorted in the last part of its journey to the Canary Island port by patrol vessel belonging to the Spanish Civil Guard’s Maritime Service (SEMAR) and a large emergency response vessel operated by the Spanish Sea Rescue Organization (SASEMAR).
The MV Hondius is not allowed to dock directly at any of the Port of Granadilla harbour wall mooring points, and is currently in the middle of the port.
It is anchored a short distance away from harbour facilities but within the port itself to protect it from any inclement sea conditions.
Stormy weather is expected in the coming days, so Spanish officials are trying to make sure the evacuation of passengers from around midday on Sunday will conclude by mid-day on Monday.
A spokesperson for Oceanwide Expeditions, which operates the ship, said: “The vessel is scheduled to arrive at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, at 5.30am local time.
“All guests and a limited number of crew members are expected to begin to disembark from m/v Hondius in managed groups at Granadilla, from around 8am local time local time.
“Once disembarked, they will be transferred immediately to their allocated aircraft.” They added: “No symptomatic individuals are present on board.
The atmosphere on board continues to remain positive.
“The onward travel plans for all guests and crew are being led by organizations from a number of countries, including the WHO, in close cooperation with Spanish government authorities.”
Ms Lane herself didn’t want to say anything in the hours last night as the ship slowly approached the Canaries at little more than 7 knots.
But Senator Aubrey McCarthy, who has helped arrange Ms Lane’s repatriation back to Ireland, said last night: “Everything is on course.I was chatting to her earlier and she is very happy with the Department of Health and the consular officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
She is upbeat, and in great form and knows she will have to quarantine when she gets back.
Ms Lane, who has travelled on the ship five previous times, and her travelling companion from Dublin, are due to be ferried from the cruise ship to a cordoned off area of the harbour.
A view of the MV Hondius anchored at a port in Praia, Cape Verde last Monday. Picture: AP Photo/Arilson Almeida
As well as staffed by medical staff from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is co-ordinating the arrival of passengers from the ship, the area has been secured by armed members of Spain’s Guardia Civil police force.
Ms Lane and her travelling companion will then, like every other disembarking passenger, each be screened for any symptoms of the virus to see what condition they are in.
They will then be escorted to meet officials from the Irish government, including from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
They will then be transferred to Ireland’s government jet and flown back to Ireland, where they will expect to have to be isolated at a HSE facility for up to around five to six weeks.
The incubation period for the virus is around six weeks but neither Ms Lane or her travelling companion have shown any of the virus’ symptoms – which can include extreme fatigue, muscle aches, vomiting and shortness of breath – since a passenger died on April 11.
His wife died after leaving the ship with his remains and a third person died on May 2.
While the virus is usually transmitted to humans via rats and mice, it is understood the first victim had the virus before they boarded the ship.
Ms Lane has previously told the Irish Examiner of her shock at learning for the first time that passengers had fallen ill and then died from the virus.
She, however, kept her spirits up by reading, watching Netflix films, and going for regular walks aboard the ship which anchored off Cape Verde after passengers started falling ill.
In total, there have been three deaths and five other people have fallen ill and are described as being critical but stable in hospital intensive care units.