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BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from the port in Tenerife where the MV Hondius is soon to dock, after a deadly hantavirus outbreak.
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Intensive preparations have been under way to receive the ship in the port of Granadilla and help more than 100 people onto shore to be repatriated.
The Hondius arrived near the port before dawn, but even now it won't be permitted to reach shore: a security perimeter of one nautical mile will be enforced around the ship as it approaches the island.
Once in the port, it will drop anchor at sea to ensure its continuing isolation.
The complex operation to prevent the rare Andes strain of this virus spreading is described by Spain's health minister as "unprecedented".
Involving 23 countries, it has been meticulously planned for maximum safety and to answer the concerns of disgruntled locals. They include the president of the Canary Islands, who says he "won't be calm" until all the passengers and crew have left.
"The risk of contagion for the general population is low," health minister Mónica García repeated on Saturday.
"We believe that alarmism, misinformation and confusion are contrary to the basic principles of preserving public health."
Security measures in the port, an industrial facility in the south of Tenerife, increased notably on Saturday. Spain's military police and disaster response teams have both set up large reception tents and access to the waterfront is restricted.
Once the Hondius has been manoeuvred into place, by around 07:00 (06:00 GMT) on Sunday, medical teams will board to check everyone for signs of the virus. Latest reports say nobody else is showing symptoms.
People will then be divided into groups by nationality and ferried to the coast in small boats. By then, charter planes should be on the tarmac at the local airport, ready to repatriate them.
Earlier on Saturday, the interior minister said the UK, US and multiple EU member states were all sending planes
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