Tenerife dock workers protest as MV Hondius approaches after hantavirus outbreak
The MV Hondius cruise ship is approaching Tenerife after an outbreak of hantavirus aboard, with Spanish authorities agreeing that passengers may disembark there this weekend.
The vessel travelled from Cape Verde, where three people were evacuated because of illness.
On Friday, dock workers in Tenerife gathered outside the Canary Islands parliament in Santa Cruz to protest the ship's arrival.
Union representative Joana Batista said workers were unhappy about being asked to work in a port without special safety measures or information while an infected ship was approaching.
Some colleagues have threatened to block the cruise ship if their demands are not met.
The dispute matters because the ship's arrival has become both a public health issue and a test of how authorities manage maritime safety, passenger movement and local confidence.
Residents and port workers have asked for clearer information on how the transfer will be handled.
The protest also reflects wider concern in the Canary Islands about decisions taken by the central government.
One demonstrator said the authorities had ignored opposition from the president of the Canary Islands region, Fernando Clavijo.
