Britons aboard the hantavirus-ridden cruise ship could be flown home as soon as today after the vessel finally docked at the island of Tenerife this morning.
Before dawn, the vessel approached the port of Granadilla around one nautical mile away from land. The ship is not allowed to dock at the shore for security purposes.
The crew dropped the anchor at sea to ensure the vessel remains in isolation away from the island.
Once Spanish health authorities assess the passengers to confirm they all remain asymptomatic, around 100 will be allowed to disembark and sent to the mainland in small boats.
The passengers will take sealed buses to the airport, which is around 10 minutes away.
They will then board repatriation planes to head to their home nations.
Its docking on the holiday hotspot is the latest step in the systemic operation designed to combat the spread of the rare Andes strain of the virus.
Thirteen Spanish passengers and one crew member will be evacuated first.
Locals have been protesting the move over fears of possible contamination
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Government chiefs confirmed groups of other nationals will follow suit.
The 22 Britons on board the hantavirus-stricken ship will be flown back to the UK today.
The group will be tested on the ship before evacuating and then shipped directly to the plane, it is understood.
Once they arrive in the UK, they will be ferried to a Wirral hospital for clinical assessment and testing, health chiefs confirmed.
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The ship was anchored one nautical mile away from the shore
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The patients will stay at the facility for 72 hours. Then, specialists will decide their fate: isolating at home or anywhere else.
Locals and even presidents of affected nations are brimming with fury at the latest developments, with the meticulously planned operation involving 23 countries.
The President of the Canary Islands has said he "won't be calm" until all of the passengers and crew members have left the island.
"The risk of contagion for the general population is low," health minister Mónica García said on Saturday.
"We believe that alarmism, misinformation and confusion are contrary to the basic principles of preserving public health," she added.
Security measures have been particularly bolstered ahead of the next step in the international operation.
In the port, Spanish military forces and disaster response teams have been established.
Large reception tents have been erected and access to the shores has been cordoned off in anticipation of the ship's docking, which took place at 7am local time.