San Francisco Bay Ferry has officially joined Green Marine, the maritime sector’s leading voluntary environmental certification initiative. The commitment, approved by SF Bay Ferry’s Board of Directors in October 2024, cements the agency’s sustainability efforts via independent verification of progress.
“Joining Green Marine’s robust program aligns with our fundamental values,” said Jim Wunderman, Chair of the SF Bay Ferry Board of Directors. “Using the program’s detailed framework will continually guide our efforts to advance our environmental performance.”
See Green Marine’s press release.
Green Marine is a voluntary certification program that helps maritime operators improve environmental performance beyond regulatory requirements. It addresses critical issues like greenhouse gas emissions, underwater noise, and waste management.
By joining Green Marine, SF Bay Ferry will gain access to standardized performance indicators that facilitate effective tracking of environmental progress and benchmarking against industry peers. This would support the agency’s efforts to address challenges such as marine wildlife protection, and waste management, while advancing the goals outlined in the Sustainability Policy.
Green Marine’s focus on performance indicators such as air emissions and waste management, complements the goals for transitioning to zero-emission vessels as outlined in SF Bay Ferry’s 2050 Service Vision & Expansion Policy. The program’s structured framework, which includes self-evaluation guides, performance benchmarks, and third-party verification, provide a transparent, data-driven approach to monitoring environmental performance. This approach would ensure that improvements are measurable and verifiable.
Collaboration with stakeholders such as marine operators, regulatory agencies, and environmental organizations, fosters shared learning and best practices, enhancing SF Bay Ferry’s capacity for environmental leadership and positioning for future funding opportunities. Through its participation, SF Bay Ferry would make measurable progress toward a resilient, sustainable future.