This was sent to me on an email thread today. Please feel free to feret out the back story:
Here’s what one blogger (here) believes will be the result”

This is the most sweeping environmental regulation yet by the EPA and its effects on the shipping industry could be devastating. Most of the ships that enter our waters are from other countries — in other words, free trade. But if foreign nations have to pay exorbitant amounts of money to cut emissions on their ships, they may just decide trade isn’t worth it after all. Regardless, the effect on American imports can only be detrimental.

 And here’s the report:

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) today officially accepted the proposal to designate waters off the North American coasts as an Emission Control Area (ECA) – a move that will result in cleaner air for millions of Americans. Large ships that operate in ECAs must use dramatically cleaner fuel and technology, leading to major air quality and public health benefits that extend hundreds of miles inland. The ECA was proposed in March 2009 and the IMO adopted it in the fastest possible timetable.

…

Enforcing the stringent ECA standards will reduce sulfur content in fuel by 98 percent – slashing particulate matter emissions by 85 percent, and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 80 percent. To achieve these reductions, tougher sulfur standards will phase in starting in 2012, ultimately reaching no more than 1,000 parts per million by 2015. Also, new ships must use advanced emission control technologies beginning in 2016 which will help reduce NOx emissions.