Green Marine International is the new umbrella company and governance structure for the Green Marine and Green Marine Europe environmental certification programs, voluntary marine industry initiatives designed to advance environmental excellence beyond regulations.
All Green Marine and Green Marine Europe participants are now members of Green Marine International. Their respective certification requirements remain unchanged.
“This is truly a turning point in the history of Green Marine, a unique certification program that began in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region 17 years ago. Now it’s spreading throughout North America, Europe and beyond,” says David Bolduc, President of Green Marine International. “This new governance structure retains the same commitment, rigor and transparency that established Green Marine’s solid reputation and made the launch of Green Marine Europe four years ago a resounding success.”
This new structure represents a logical development, given the strong synergies between the programs and the expiry this year of the licensing agreement granting Surfrider Foundation Europe management of Green Marine Europe.
“I’m very proud of Surfrider Foundation Europe’s leadership in setting up Green Marine Europe certification in collaboration with Green Marine and the European maritime industry over the past four years,” says Florent Marcoux, CEO of Surfrider Foundation Europe. “I am confident that the new international structure will provide a governance framework that will ensure that the key elements that initially attracted us to Green Marine – namely continuous improvement and engagement with stakeholders – remain the cornerstones of the program as the number of certified participants continues to grow.”
Surfrider Foundation will actively support Green Marine International after the full transition to new governance by participating in committees involved in the review and ongoing development of the program.
At Alliance verte internationale’s first Annual General Meeting held on May 23, 2024, nine of the twelve directors on the new Board of Directors were appointed:
- Jan Allman, Vice President and General Manager, Fincantieri Marine Group
- Björn Bijma, Chief Operating Officer, CSL Group
- Isabelle Brassard, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Fednav Ltd.
- Claudine Couture-Trudel, Vice-President, ESG Policy and Future Initiatives, QSL
- Daniel Dagenais, President and CEO, NEAS Group Inc.
- Deborah DeLuca, General Manager, Duluth Seaway Port Authorityr
- Steve Nevey, Assistant Secretary, Washington State Ferries
- Sean Pierce, Chief Executive Officer, Logistec
- Stephanie Jones Stebbins, General Manager – Maritime, Port of Seattle
When Green Marine Europe is incorporated in France, the three European directors will be appointed to the Board of Alliance verte internationale by the European participants.
“With Alliance verte internationale, we’re responding to requests from new maritime companies seeking certification,” explains Mr. Bolduc. “Green Marine International has a pilot project to include European ports in the program, as well as pilot projects to determine how the program might need to be adjusted to take into account the specific regulations governing maritime operations in Australia and Latin America.”
Green Alliance at a glance
Founded in 2007, the Green Marine environmental certification program is the result of a voluntary effort by the North American shipping industry to go beyond regulations. More than 185 shipowners, ports, terminals and shipyards across Canada and the United States are currently participating in the program. Launched in 2020, Green Marine Europe currently includes 26 shipowners, representing a large and diversified fleet of over 500 vessels, as well as three major shipyards. Formed in May 2024, Green Alliance International is the governance structure overseeing the two environmental certification programs.
