When ships were required in 2008 to use cleaner fuel closer to the California Coast, the Santa Barbara Channel's ship traffic dropped dramatically. Now the area outside of the islands is included in the clean fuel zone.
Noting that cargo ships are traveling longer distances to avoid having to switch as quickly to a cleaner-burning fuel off the California coast, the state’s Air Resources Board has changed its fuel regulations.
The amended rules, approved on Thursday, are aimed at both reducing the ships’ greenhouse gas emissions and addressing a problem that the vessels created for the Navy as they shifted to routes farther offshore to avoid compliance.
The newly amended rules extend the regulated area by an additional 24 nautical miles beyond the Channel Islands in Southern California — far enough offshore to remove the economic incentive to avoid compliance and prevent commercial traffic through the Navy testing area.