Green Marine Europe (GME), an environmental certification program focused on the maritime industry, unveiled its 5th annual performance report during a half-day event in Brussels. The discussions centered on the maritime industry’s environmental transition and its financing, reflecting the growing impact of GME on the sector.
Originally adapted by Surfrider Foundation Europe from the North American Green Marine certification program, GME has now expanded to include 66 members across 10 European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The membership continues to grow, currently featuring 31 participants (including ship owners and shipyards), 18 supporters (such as research institutes, environmental organizations, and government agencies), 8 associations representing the maritime industry, and 9 partners providing products, services, equipment, and new technologies to the sector.
Shipyards Certified for the First Time
Participation in GME has doubled in just two years, growing from 15 to 31 members. In 2023, 28 of these participants achieved certification, while 3 others are set to undergo evaluation next year. Notably, 2023 marked the certification of the first three shipyards in the program, helping these facilities to adopt measures that reduce their environmental impact.
In addition to this progress, GME has collaborated on the CirclesOfLife project, which launched in January 2024 and is funded by the European Union (EU) under the Horizon Europe program. The initiative, which runs from 2024 to 2026, aims to promote sustainable shipbuilding across the EU, involving 15 shipyards, research institutes, suppliers, and NGOs from six European countries.
Six new participants earned certification for the first time this year, including Chantier Naval de Marseille, Lisnave Estaleiros Navais S.A., Navantia S.A., S.M.E., Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC), SPM Ferries, and the Port of Bordeaux.
With the program’s ongoing expansion, GME has initiated a test phase in 2024 to extend certification to ports, with the first wave of certifications expected by 2026.
Driving Environmental Progress in Maritime Operations
Despite a slight decrease in overall performance—down to an average of 2.5 out of 5 from 2.6 in 2022—the results reflect GME’s commitment to transparency and gradual improvement. The program continues to attract companies new to environmental transition, providing a rigorous framework for action.
Ship owners showed significant progress in waste management, achieving an overall increase of 8 levels in 2023. Additionally, more than half of the certified ship owners reached Level 3 or higher in controlling NOx, SOx, and particulate matter emissions. Almost a third of ship owners have met the Level 3 threshold for greenhouse gases, laying the groundwork for achieving decarbonization goals by 2050.
Detailed results and analysis are available in GME’s 2023 Performance Report, now published on the program’s website.
A New Era: Green Marine International
In the spring of 2024, Green Marine International was formed, uniting Green Marine Europe and Green Marine in North America under a single organization. This global governance structure aims to reflect the growing international influence of the certification program while maintaining strong, coherent standards.
“All participants from Green Marine Europe and Green Marine are now part of Green Marine International, and while certification requirements remain unchanged, this new governance will ensure continued growth and engagement across both regions,” said Florent Marcoux, Executive Director of Surfrider Foundation Europe.
David Bolduc, President and CEO of Green Marine International, echoed these sentiments: “This new governance is a significant milestone for Green Marine, a program that began 17 years ago in the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence region. We’re excited to see its continued evolution.”
