Watching the press conference https://www.facebook.com/BVIGovernment/videos/336867768257013 I think I'm starting to get a picture of how this happened. This is IMO of course.

* A number of BVI paperwork and safety requirements have gone unenforced for years.
* A UK shipping audit highlighted enforcement gaps.
* VISR committed to closing these gaps by now demanding compliance.
* Customs/VISR set a deadline for completion.
* Some charter operators took the tack of "we're doing this as quickly as possible, supply chain, labor, etc." and gambled that authorities were bluffing.