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The EPA and the International Maritime Organization<\/a> have announced stricter emissions regulations for ships<\/a> operating in the waters off the coast of the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\n Starting in 2012, ships within 200 nautical miles of the shores will either have to use cleaner, more expensive fuel that contains less sulfur or be equipped with scrubber devices that clean the sulfur dioxide from the exhaust.\u00a0 By 2016, new ships will have to use advanced emissions control systems.<\/p>\n California already implemented an emissions control zone within 24 nautical miles of its shore last year and ships have tried avoiding the area.\u00a0 These new rules extend the control zone along most of North America and much farther out to sea, so avoidance won’t be an option anymore.<\/p>\n The EPA says the emissions controls will reduce U.S. NOx emissions by 1.2 million tons annually and particulate matter emissions by 143,000 tons annually.<\/p>\n