Port of Santander Becomes First European Port to Join Green Marine Europe

The Port Authority of Santander (APS) received the Sustainability Actions 2026 award, granted by the communications group Custommedia, as part of Sustainability Day 2026 held in the auditoriums of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid. The distinction recognizes the institution's commitment to environmental sustainability and, in particular, its joining of Green Marine Europe, making it the first European port to adhere to this environmental certification initiative for the maritime sector.

As detailed by Info Puertos, Santander joined Green Marine Europe in April 2026 as the first participating European port authority in this scheme, which originally assesses the environmental performance of maritime transport and has been adapted to reflect the reality of terminals and ports across the continent; the APS took part in the working group that adjusted this assessment framework. The president of the APS, César Díaz, accepted the award and noted that the recognition highlights the institution's commitment to continuous improvement, transparency and protection of the marine environment, while also stressing that joining Green Marine Europe reflects a willingness to go beyond regulatory compliance.

Joining Green Marine Europe adds to other instruments already implemented by the Cantabrian port, such as the EMAS Regulation and the PERS certification, which is specific to the port sector. Among the concrete actions highlighted are shore power electrification at the berths, which allows vessels to connect to the electrical grid and shut down their auxiliary engines during port calls, and the installation of a photovoltaic plant on the roof of the vehicle storage silo, which, according to information released by the port, would cover around 54% of its electricity consumption. The development of climate change adaptation measures for infrastructure and port operations was also mentioned.

Info Puertos noted that Santander Bay, where cargo traffic, cruise ships, recreational boating and natural areas coexist, adds a territorial dimension to these measures, since decisions on air quality, noise, water and mobility affect operators, workers and the general public. The outlet added that Green Marine Europe sets out a progressive system that requires participants to demonstrate improvements and raise their performance levels, meaning the port's next step will be to translate its commitments into measurable results in energy, emissions, climate adaptation and relations with the surrounding environment.