MV Hondius
Dutch expedition cruise ship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MV Hondius is a Dutch expedition cruise ship owned by Oceanwide Expeditions. Built by Brodosplit in Split, Croatia, the vessel entered service in 2019 and operates primarily in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
MV Hondius at Spitsbergen in June 2025 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hondius |
| Namesake | Jodocus Hondius |
| Owner | Oceanwide Expeditions |
| Port of registry | Vlissingen,  Netherlands |
| Ordered | 8 November 2016 |
| Builder | Brodosplit (Split, Croatia) |
| Cost | ~€100 million[1] |
| Yard number | 484 |
| Laid down | 11 December 2017 |
| Launched | 10 June 2018 |
| Completed | 22 May 2019 |
| Maiden voyage | 3 June 2019 |
| In service | 2019–present |
| Identification | |
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Type | Expedition cruise ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Displacement | 5,633 t (5,544 long tons) |
| Length | 107.6 m (353 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 17.6 m (57 ft 9 in) |
| Draught | 5.36 m (17 ft 7 in) |
| Ice class | Polar Class 6 |
| Installed power | 2 × ABC 12DZC (2 × 2,130 kW) |
| Propulsion | Single shaft; controllable pitch propeller |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Capacity | 170 passengers in 80 cabins |
| Crew |
|
Designed to Polar Class 6 standards for navigation in polar waters, Hondius accommodates up to 170 passengers in 80 cabins and is intended for relatively small-scale expedition tourism. The ship is registered in Vlissingen, Netherlands.
In May 2026, Hondius became associated with the 2026 hantavirus outbreak aboard the vessel, following reports of infections among passengers and crew.
Description
Hondius is 107.6 metres (353 ft 0 in) long overall and 94.275 metres (309 ft 3.6 in) between perpendiculars, has a beam of 17.6 metres (57 ft 9 in), and draws 5.36 metres (17 ft 7 in) of water with a displacement of 5,633 tonnes (5,544 long tons). Its gross tonnage is 6,603; net tonnage 2,057; and deadweight tonnage 1,154 tonnes. The ship's hull and propulsion system are strengthened for navigation in ice-covered waters according to Polar Class 6 which is intended for summer and autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions.[2][3]
Unlike bigger and more luxurious cruise ships,[4][5] Hondius is built to support expedition-style voyages and activity-based shore excursions in polar regions.[6][7] The ship can accommodate up to 170 passengers in 80 outside passenger cabins across eight categories from four-berth staterooms to grand suites with private balcony. The public spaces include dining room, lecture room and an observation lounge as well as two gangway and an indoor platform to embark Zodiac inflatable boats.[8] The ship has a crew of 57 with additional 13 guides and a doctor.[9]
The ship's propulsion system consists of two 2,130-kilowatt (2,860 hp) 12-cylinder Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC) 12DZC four-stroke medium-speed diesel engines geared to a single controllable pitch propeller. This gives Hondius a service speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Onboard electricity can be generated either with a shaft generator driven by power take-off from the ship's main propulsion or two 750-kilowatt (1,010 hp) auxiliary diesel generators.[10] For maneuvering in ports as well as maintaining station without dropping an anchor to seafloor during shore excursions, Hondius has two transverse thrusters: one in the bow and another in the stern.[2][11]
History
In late 2016, Oceanwide Expeditions ordered an ice-strengthened expedition vessel from Brodosplit in Split, Croatia.[7][11][12] The ship, named Hondius after the Flemish cartographer Jodocus Hondius,[6][13] would be the first newly built ship for the company that had previously operated chartered or converted second-hand tonnage.[5][14] First steel was cut on 22 August 2017,[15] followed by keel laying on 11 December 2017[16] and launching on 10 June 2018.[17] The completed vessel was delivered on 22 May 2019 and on the same day Oceanwide Expeditions signed a new contract with the shipyard for the construction of a sister ship, Janssonius.[1] In June 2019, Hondius was off on its first excursion to Spitsbergen.[18]
In December 2019, Hondius participated in the search for the Chilean Air Force C-130 airplane '990' following its disappearance.[19][20][21] It was the closest ship in the area, being 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) away from where the airplane disappeared from the radar.[20]
In April 2026, an outbreak of hantavirus on board Hondius killed three people and left another seriously ill.[22] Thereafter, the ship was placed under isolation. It was anchored off the coast of the Cape Verde Islands in early May 2026, with passengers unable to disembark.[23] Hondius arrived at Tenerife, Canary Islands on 10 May. Her passengers were flown home.[24]
Popular culture
A journey aboard the Hondius inspired Dutch singer-pianist Ruben Hein in his 2022 album Oceans.[25]
See also
