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The cruise line industry (CLI) provides an opportunity to rapidly improve national (and regional) economies in destinations. However, lack of planning and proper preparation by destination authorities and the cruise industry can have significant impacts on the local community, commerce, and environment. This paper identifies and quantifies near-shore challenges between the national authorities and the CLI that include port facility preparedness and the potential stresses on local infrastructure. These key parameters used to quantify the impact of the CLI on established destinations can potentially become part of the analysis, negotiation, and communication between all parties involved (government, business, and tourists) as part of the contribution to ensure sustainable CLI destinations. The Port of Havana, Cuba was selected as the study site and was compared against similar cruise line destinations around the Meso-American region (Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Belize City, Belize, and Progreso, Mexico). The Port of Havana’s natural infrastructure and the carriage available for the incoming ship (i.e., nautical charting) appear to be adequate for welcoming increased cruise ship traffic. The main concerns are the potential toll on local resources including the impact on port traffic and the local infrastructure required to support tourists once they depart the ship.

Since its establishment in 1807, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey has provided nautical charts to support safe shipping, national defence, and the delamination of maritime boundaries. The mission of the office is to provide navigation products and services that ensure safe and efficient maritime commerce on America's oceans and coastal waters, and in the Great Lakes. The Office of Coast Survey employs cartographers, hydrographers, physical scientists, managers and administrative staff in order to fulfil its mission. Until recently, training in nautical cartography at the office of Coast Survey was conducted at the branch level and differed based on level of employee seniority (i.e., Entry, Intermediate and Advanced) and the processing branch of the employee. Over the past two years, NOAA has established a Coast Survey CAT B program that is intended to train and educate to up to 13 cartographers per year in nautical cartography, through a combination of lectures, hands-on chart production experience, details to various branches within the Coast Survey, and field trips to working hydrographic survey vessels through six training modules spread over a one-year period, spread over six courses that include:  Refresher course that provides a review of the basic math, computer and communication technology, marine geography, hydrography, and geodetic topics. The goal of this course is to ensure that students have a sufficient academic background to succeed in the subsequent CAT-B program courses and other activities. Introduction to Cartography course that reviews elements of cartography, specifically scale, design, and data manipulation techniques. Students will gain an appreciation for maps and map-making, including manual techniques. This introductory course will include hands-on use of computer graphics tools. Map Design course that reviews the various styles and techniques associated with cartographic design. The course will require the student to: 1) analyse chart design parameters, 2) compile thematic cartographic projects, and 3) experiment with map design. GIS and Spatial Analysis course that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of spatial analysis methods and they will learn practical skills in using GIS and spatial analysis. The class covers the methods of spatial analysis including measuring aspects of geometric features and identifying spatial patterns of geospatial objects that are represented as point, line, network, areal data, and 3-D surfaces. GIS and Spatial Modelling course that provides the students a foundation and understanding of various issues related to modelling and simulation in the GIS. It will address the concepts, tools, and techniques of GIS modelling (vector-and raster-based modelling). In addition, it will present modelling concepts and theory as well as provide opportunities for hands-on model design, construction, and application. NOAA training project and internship program course that includes: 1) a detailed revi...