Big cargo ships are some of the heaviest polluters on the planet. They might also be one of the most efficient forms of transporting goods — and a large reason why we Americans are able to purchase so much from so far away for comparatively little money.
In an effort to curb the harmful emissions spewed by these big ships along the heavily populated coastline of California, the California Air Resource Board (CARB) has required all ships coming within 24 nautical miles of the coast to use cleaner burning fuel. But rather than make the switch, many ships are simply choosing a more crowded naval route that runs through the heart of a Navy weapons testing ground.