The Port of Santander, the first port to join Green Marine Europe’s certification program

Green Marine Europe reaches a structuring milestone with the participation of the Port of Santander, the first port to join its environmental certification program, recently opened to port authorities.

Located on Spain’s northern coast, the Port of Santander holds a strategic position along the European Atlantic arc. As a multipurpose port, it plays a key role in freight transport - particularly vehicles and bulk cargo - as well as in passenger traffic.

An actor involved from the outset in building the framework

The Port of Santander actively contributed to the working group that adapted the Green Marine framework to the European context and port-specific realities.

This early involvement gives particular consistency to its entry into the program: the port is not simply joining an existing framework - it helped shape it.

A strong signal for the deployment of the port framework

By becoming the first port participant, Santander sends a clear signal: ports are progressively adopting structured tools to steer their environmental transition, beyond regulatory compliance alone.

At the interface between economic activities, urban environments and coastal ecosystems, ports face complex challenges - reducing emissions, integrating biodiversity, managing impacts on local communities, and adapting to climate change. These issues are now central to the EU Ports Strategy, whose operational implementation requires structured frameworks.

In this context, the Green Marine Europe framework provides a practical tool to translate these strategic orientations into measurable actions, managed over time. The Port of Santander’s commitment reflects this intention to structure its approach within a demanding framework, based on performance indicators and continuous improvement.

A dynamic aligned with an already engaged Spanish ecosystem

With this new participation, Green Marine Europe further strengthens its presence in Spain, where several key maritime actors - Baleària and Navantia - are already involved in the certification process.

The inclusion of the Port of Santander helps consolidate a national ecosystem actively addressing transition challenges, fostering exchanges between ports, shipowners and shipyards.

Structuring a European dynamic at port level

This first port participation marks an important step in the rollout of the Green Marine Europe framework across Europe. It paves the way for other port authorities seeking a credible, operational and recognised framework to support their transition.