MV Hondius is one of those ships that makes you stop and look twice. The world’s first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel, it was built from the ground up for expedition cruising — designed to go where almost no passenger ship can. But in May 2026, the ship made headlines for a very different reason, when a serious illness outbreak left passengers stranded off the coast of West Africa. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know: who actually owns MV Hondius?
The short answer: Oceanwide Expeditions owns MV Hondius. Owned by Wijnand van Gessel and operated by his son, CEO Michel van Gessel, Oceanwide Expeditions is a family-run company headquartered in Vlissingen, Netherlands. Here’s the full story.
MV Hondius — Ship Highlights
| Full Name | MV Hondius |
| IMO Number | 9818709 |
| Built | 2019 |
| Built By | Brodosplit Shipyard, Split, Croatia |
| Flag | Netherlands |
| Registered In | Rotterdam |
| Owner & Operator | Oceanwide Expeditions |
| Type | Polar Expedition Cruise Ship |
| Ice Class | LR-PC6 (Lloyd’s Register Polar Class 6) |
| Passenger Capacity | 170 (max 196) |
| Length | 107.6 meters (353 ft) |
| Max Speed | 15 knots |
| Named After | Jodocus Hondius (1563–1612), Dutch-Flemish cartographer |
Who Owns MV Hondius?
Oceanwide Expeditions is a Dutch company specializing in expedition-style voyages to Antarctica and the Arctic. The company self-owns and operates a fleet of ice-strengthened vessels.
Oceanwide Expeditions was founded in 1993 by father and son, Wijnand and Michel van Gessel. Since then, Oceanwide has developed into a travel specialist for small-scale expedition cruises to the polar regions.
| Owner / Stakeholder | Type | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wijnand van Gessel | Private — Founding family | 1993–present | Owner of Oceanwide Expeditions |
| Michel van Gessel | Family — CEO | 1993–2025 | Son of founder; ran operations as CEO |
| Rémi Bouysset | Professional CEO | June 2025–present | Appointed new CEO; Wijnand retains ownership |
| Bolster Investment Partners | Minority stakeholder | 2020–present | Holds 25% minority stake |
Ownership History — How Did It Get Here?
The Dutch “Plancius Foundation” (1981–1996) was the predecessor of Oceanwide Expeditions — the first cruise operator ever to organize on a yearly basis expedition voyages to Spitsbergen. Oceanwide Expeditions continued with the activities of the Plancius Foundation in 1996.
The decision to build MV Hondius was a major leap forward for the company. On August 23, 2017, Brodosplit Shipyard in Split, Croatia held the steel-cutting ceremony for hull 484, officially marking the start of construction. The vessel was built in 2019 and currently sails under the flag of Netherlands.
In December 2020, Bolster Investment Partners acquired a minority stake of 25% in Oceanwide Expeditions to support the company in realizing its growth ambitions.
Key Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Plancius Foundation becomes the first operator to organize yearly polar expedition cruises to Svalbard |
| 1993 | Oceanwide Expeditions formally founded by Wijnand and Michel van Gessel |
| 2017 | Steel-cutting ceremony for MV Hondius at Brodosplit Shipyard, Croatia |
| 2019 | MV Hondius launched — world’s first LR Polar Class 6 passenger vessel |
| 2020 | Bolster Investment Partners acquires 25% minority stake in Oceanwide Expeditions |
| June 2025 | Rémi Bouysset appointed as new CEO of Oceanwide Expeditions |
| March 2026 | Oceanwide Expeditions signs Letter of Intent for two new eco-sail vessels, expected to join the fleet from 2029 |
| May 2026 | MV Hondius makes global headlines due to hantavirus outbreak onboard |
Who Built MV Hondius?
The vessel’s design and technical solutions were developed by Brodosplit’s Design Department, underscoring the shipyard’s reputation as one of Europe’s leading facilities for building advanced, complex marine vessels.
It is 107.6 meters long, 17.6 meters wide and the speed of 15 knots is provided by two main engines with a total power of 4,200 kW. It can host 196 passengers accommodated in 85 cabins.
Leadership — Then and Now
Oceanwide Expeditions is owned by Wijnand van Gessel and operated by his son CEO Michel van Gessel — a staff composed of pioneering polar experts who keep voyages innovative and adventurous.
In June 2025, a leadership transition took place. Oceanwide Expeditions announced the appointment of Rémi Bouysset to the role of CEO, with this appointment taking effect from 16 June 2025. Bouysset brings a wealth of industry experience, with a career spanning over 30 years in the travel, hospitality, and luxury sectors.
The Fleet — Sister Ships of Hondius
Oceanwide Expeditions operates four vessels: sailing vessel s/v Rembrandt van Rijn, former Royal Dutch Navy oceanographic research vessel MV Plancius, former Russian Academy of Science vessel MV Ortelius, and Polar Class 6 vessel MV Hondius.
In The News — 2026 Hantavirus Outbreak
MV Hondius became major international news in early May 2026 when a hantavirus outbreak occurred onboard during a transatlantic crossing. The World Health Organization confirmed that as of May 4, seven cases of hantavirus had been identified after a suspected outbreak on the ship, which was held off West Africa carrying mostly British, American and Spanish passengers, along with four Canadians. In early 2026, three passengers died after the suspected hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius.
My Take on MV Hondius
MV Hondius is a genuinely remarkable vessel — purpose-built for some of the most hostile environments on the planet, designed with environmental responsibility at its core, and backed by a family company with over 30 years of polar expertise. The 2026 hantavirus outbreak was a tragic and unprecedented event that no amount of engineering can fully guard against. But it should not define a ship that has otherwise pushed the boundaries of what expedition cruising can be. Oceanwide Expeditions built something special with Hondius — the world’s first Polar Class 6 passenger vessel is not a title that comes easily. Under new CEO Rémi Bouysset and with two new eco-sail vessels on the way, the company’s best chapters may still be ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who owns MV Hondius?
MV Hondius is owned by Oceanwide Expeditions, a Dutch family company owned by Wijnand van Gessel, headquartered in Vlissingen, Netherlands.
Q: When was MV Hondius built?
MV Hondius was built in 2019 by Brodosplit Shipyard in Split, Croatia.
Q: What is special about MV Hondius?
It is the world’s first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel — the highest Lloyd’s Register ice-strengthening standard for passenger cruise ships.
Q: Who is the CEO of Oceanwide Expeditions?
As of June 2025, Rémi Bouysset is the CEO of Oceanwide Expeditions.
Q: What happened on MV Hondius in 2026?
In early 2026, a hantavirus outbreak occurred onboard, resulting in three passenger deaths and a WHO emergency response off the coast of West Africa.
Q: What flag does MV Hondius sail under?
MV Hondius sails under the flag of the Netherlands and is registered in Rotterdam.
Q: What other ships does Oceanwide Expeditions own?
Alongside MV Hondius, Oceanwide operates MV Plancius, MV Ortelius, and s/v Rembrandt van Rijn.
