Ships are the Major Cause of Pollution in U.S.
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National restrictions on ship emissions are being brought into effect this year. Environmental officials have focused on automobiles and have long ignored pollution from ships. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now pursuing measures to have new ships built with cleaner engines, although it may not be enough to solve the current problems.
As foreign trade is expected to double by 2020, it is estimated that pollution from ships will also double. Therefore, local and state regulators are providing money to operators to install cleaner burning engines.
The EPA recently set new pollution standards for small boats and commercial vessels of all sizes. But port cities say this isn't enough as commercial vessels burn fuel full of sulfur. An international treaty will take effect next year that will curb emissions from tankers, container ships, and bulkers. However, the U.S. Senate has not yet approved the treaty, so the U.S. Coast Guard cannot enforce these standards on foreign ships in U.S. waters.
Even if the treaty is signed by the U.S. government, the issue surrounding the new treaty is that it only applies to new ships being built. With commercial vessels lasting 20 to 30 years, older ships will not have to be in compliance, and that doesn't settle well with environmental groups. They are campaigning with the government saying that the treaty needs to be re-examined and tightened up.
