The Port of San Diego has once again earned certification through Green Marine, an international voluntary environmental certification program recognizing ports and maritime organizations for their commitment to sustainable operations and environmental stewardship.
The recertification covers the 2024 and 2025 calendar years. The Port first joined the Green Marine program in 2018 and has maintained annual self-evaluations and third-party certification reviews every two years since then.
“We’re proud to be certified again as part of the Green Marine program,” said Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners Chair Ann Moore. “As a Port of firsts, we are always thinking ahead and building on the progress we have made in reducing emissions and continuing our commitment to serving as environmental champions of San Diego Bay.”
To earn certification, participating organizations undergo a comprehensive evaluation of their environmental performance. The process includes annual self-assessments and an independent verification every two years. Third-party evaluators conduct interviews, perform site visits and review documentation to confirm reported scores and environmental initiatives.
As part of the certification process, the Port was evaluated in several performance areas, including greenhouse gas and air pollutant reductions, spill prevention and stormwater management, community impacts, environmental leadership, community relations, waste management and underwater noise management.
The Port achieved the program’s highest rating, Level 5, in six of the eight performance indicators evaluated. Those categories included Community Impacts, Community Relations, Environmental Leadership, Spill Prevention and Stormwater Management, and Waste Management. According to Green Marine, a Level 5 score recognizes organizations demonstrating leadership and excellence in environmental performance.
Port officials said the results place the Port of San Diego among Green Marine-certified ports that have demonstrated measurable progress in environmental stewardship while continuing to improve operational sustainability throughout San Diego Bay.
Green Marine is a voluntary certification program that brings together ports, ship owners, terminals and shipyards to establish measurable environmental performance standards that exceed regulatory requirements. More than 200 maritime organizations from around the world participated in the 2025 certification program.
The Port of San Diego received its recertification during GreenTech 2026, held June 11 in Quebec City.
