Port of Cleveland Earns Green Marine Certification, Advancing Commitment to Environmental StewardshipWritten by: Alexa Konover
The Port of Cleveland is continuing to strengthen its commitment to sustainable maritime operations through participation in the Green Marine environmental certification program, a leading voluntary initiative recognized across North America’s maritime industry.
Green Marine helps ports, terminals, ship owners, shipyards, and other maritime organizations measure and improve their environmental performance through a comprehensive framework focused on continuous improvement. The program goes beyond regulatory requirements by encouraging participants to adopt best practices, implement innovative solutions, and take measurable steps to reduce their environmental impact.
To achieve certification, participants complete an annual self-assessment that evaluates their performance across a series of environmental indicators. Every two years, results are reviewed by an accredited third-party verifier to ensure accuracy, transparency, and accountability.
Green Marine evaluates participants on a five-level scale, with Level 1 representing regulatory compliance and Level 5 representing environmental excellence and industry leadership. The Port of Cleveland was evaluated across seven environmental performance indicators as part of its 2025 certification.
| Performance Indicator | 2025 Rating | Green Marine Achievement Level |
|---|---|---|
| Air Emissions | Level 2 | Best Practices |
| Aquatic Ecosystems | Level 3 | Excellent |
| Community Impacts | Level 2 | Best Practices |
| Community Relations | Level 5 | Excellence and Leadership |
| Environmental Leadership | Level 4 | Leadership |
| Spill Prevention & Stormwater Management | Level 3 | Excellent |
| Waste Management | Level 2 | Best Practices |
Building a More Sustainable Port
Environmental stewardship is a core part of the Port of Cleveland’s mission to support economic growth while protecting the Great Lakes. The Port’s 2025 Green Marine certification reflects its ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, responsible operations, and investing in practices that benefit both the environment and the communities it serves.
As the Port continues to advance sustainability initiatives, Green Marine provides a framework for measuring progress, identifying new opportunities for improvement, and demonstrating environmental accountability.
For a complete list of Green Marine performance indicators and certification criteria, click HERE.