WOC Partners with Green Marine to Advance Maritime Industry Sustainability

The World Ocean Council (WOC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Green Marine, formalizing an already strong working relationship between the organizations and their complementary efforts on industry environmental sustainability and ocean health.

The MoU serves as a framework for collaboration on the shared objective of catalyzing improved environmental performance in the maritime industry.

“WOC’s mission as the global business leadership alliance for Corporate Ocean Responsibility is based on partnerships with organizations,” said CEO Paul Holthus. “This agreement is a solid step forward in developing the network of organizations with the shared goal of protecting the marine environment and addressing climate change through more responsible ocean industry operations.”

Through their partnership, World Ocean Council and Green Marine will work together to create more awareness for initiatives and more opportunities for maritime sector participation. This includes cross-promotion of each organization’s programs to their relevant networks, sharing information with potential members, and collaborating on marine environment protection and preservation initiatives through the exchange of technical expertise, best environmental practices, and other information.

“This agreement is so timely with the recent establishment of the Green Marine Europe label,” said David Bolduc, Green Marine’s Executive Director. “It will allow us to investigate strategic opportunities to expand Green Marine’s presence beyond North America and Europe in collaboration with the WOC's global presence and platform. The primary objective is to bolster each other’s efforts for cleaner oceans.”

About Green Marine

Founded in 2007, Green Marine’s North American environmental certification program is the result of a voluntary effort by the shipping industry to go beyond regulations. To date, more than 150 ship owners, port authorities, terminal and shipyard operators throughout Canada and the United States participate in the program. Green Marine Europe was launched in 2020 and already has a dozen certified laureates. The Green Marine certification process is rigorous and transparent. Individual performance results are published annually. They are independently verified every two years. A key element of Green Marine’s success from the outset has been the active support from environmental stakeholders, the scientific community, and governments. A good number of the more than 85 supporters participate in reviewing and shaping the environmental program.