I don't believe the charge will apply to a BVI based vessel. I suspect this is a move to curtail US charter companies. I believe tourist travel is down because the BVI has strangled the Golden Goose. 7 dollar Caribes and 11 dollar painkillers are crazy. The fees and costs just keep going up. We are getting close to pulling the trigger on a new boat but will re think where to put the boat. Perhaps our money is better spent elsewhere.
It's also worth reading some of the local blogs and publications in the BVI. There is a hostility expressed to tourists I find a bit shocking. We were the victims of a robbery and found the police had no interest at all in the crime since we were tourists.
G