National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a Notice to Mariners in reference to electronic navigational charts display of isolated shoal soundings. They reported that ECDIS may not display some isolated shoal depths when operating in “Base” or “Standard” display mode. Route planning and monitoring alarms may not always be activated. They advise mariners to confirm that a planned route is clear of such dangers, by configuring the ECDIS to display “All Data”. Also mariners should visually inspect the planned route and not solely rely on the automated voyage planning check function. NOAA is in the process of examining its ENC data for these cases and will issue a notice to mariners for each area that has been examined and updated. NOAA is examining correcting relevant navigational scale ENCs for the following ports: New York, LA/Long Beach, CA, Valdez, AK, Boston, MA, Philadelphia, Norfolk, VA, Tampa, FL, Baltimore, Portland, ME, Portland, OR, San Francisco/Oakland, Seattle/Tacoma, WA, Honolulu/Pearl Harbor, HI, Anacortes, WA, Miami, Port Everglades, FL, Jacksonville, Paulsboro, NJ, Charleston, SC, Houston and New Orleans. For details visit www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/staff/headline-ecdis-issue.html. Hurricane resourceBoatU.S. has offered a hurricane resource center on their Website for boaters during what is predicted to be an “extreme season” with as many as 18 named storms, a 100% increase over 2009, according to Accuweather, a nationwide weather service. The Website offers downloadable storm planning materials including a hurricane preparation worksheet, a guide to preparing boats and marinas for hurricanes, and checklists of what to do before and after a hurricane strikes. They include sample hurricane plans and storm tracking tools with live satellite images. Visit www.BoatUS.com/HurricanesSchool changes handsCapt. John Holmberg bought The Captain School, in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, from Capt. Patrick Casey in January. Casey opened the school in the 1990s and has since moved to Cape Coral, Florida but serves as a visiting instructor. A full line of classes are offered. For more information call +1 340-775-2278 and visit www.captainschool.com.Incidental discharge regulationsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on a draft report that will provide Congress with information it may use for the regulation of incidental discharges from certain vessels. These vessels include fishing vessels, tugboats, water taxis, tour boats, towing and salvage vessels, small research vessels, fire boat and supply boat. Incidental vessel discharges include deck run-off, gray water and other types of discharges that may have a potential negative impact on water quality.Public comments on the draft report, “Study of Discharges Incidental to Normal Operation of Commercial Fishing Vessels and Other Non-Recreational Vessels Less than 79 Feet,” will be accepted, then the EPA will consider the comments and finalize the report for submission to Congress. More information on the draft report to Congress on vessel discharges at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/vessels/reportcongress.cfm or contact Robin Danesi at danesi.robin@epa.gov, 202-564-1846.Bahamas registry in the makingBahamas Minister of Environment, Earl Deveaux said the Bahamas government plans to create a megayacht registry for the Bahamas which could bring in millions of direct revenue, according to The Nassau Guardian. Deveaux spoke to delegates at the Bahamas Maritime Conference and Trade Show in February and said that the Bahamas has the third largest registered fleet in the world which represents more than 20 percent of the local economy. To follow this story visit www.thenassauguardian.com.Greece designation in VWP U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano announced the designation of Greece as a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This designation will strengthen passenger information sharing and ensuring strict security standards while streamlining travel for Greek citizens visiting the United States. For details visit www.dhs.gov.Oscar to The Cove film The Cove movie was awarded the 2009 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Director Louie Psihoyos and producer Fisher Stevens accepted the Academy Award in March accompanied by producer Paula Dupré Pesmen and Ric O’Barry. To view the acceptance speech visit www.thecovemovie.comNatalie Wood death revisted According to CNN, the case of the death of Natalie Wood has been requested to be re-opened by Wood’s sister, Lana, and the captain of the yacht she was on before her death. They have requested the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office re-examine the death. Dennis Davern, the former captain of the yacht, M/Y The Splendour, has recently written “Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour” with details of the night of her death. At press time authorities had not responded to the request.Wood was featured as a child in “Miracle on 34th Street” and starred with James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause”, Warren Beatty in “Splendor in the Grass” and “West Side Story.”Lauderdale port to expandPort Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale announced a planned $2 billion expansion over the next 20 years, said Port Everglades Director Phil Allen according to The Sun-Sentinel. Authorities are planning the growth for an expected increase in cargo, fuel and cruise passenger traffic.The Sun-Sentinel reported south Florida as the only U.S. area to post 15 years of trade surpluses, with more exports than imports, due to sales to Central and South America and the Caribbean. For details visit www.SunSentinel.com.Fiji recognizes yachts impactThe yacht industry is an important part of Fiji’s tourism industry, said the Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto according to www.fijitimes.com. A decision by government to change the laws that govern the yachting industry was welcomed to attract more yacht visits to Fiji.“Yachts come to Fiji and their owners spend long periods in Fiji either to have their yachts repaired or for holidays or sometimes to shelter during a cyclone or hurricane,” said Seeto.