I'm not sure if this is meant to contradict my comment somehow, but I think we are saying the same thing -- read differently, it sounds like you might be suggesting they don't even need the new data. Whether on VMS, or notice to mariners, or whatever, what they had was a report of discolored water. Different, therefore from new data revealing underwater topography.
Removed redundant and pedantically incorrect extra use of word "new".
Removed redundant and pedantically incorrect extra use of word "new".