Port Green Marine-certified for 5th Consecutive Year

Port Green Marine-certified for 5th Consecutive Year

July 1, 2026

GALVESTON, Texas (July 1, 2026) – The Port of Galveston has earned recertification as a Green Marine port for the fifth consecutive year, reaffirming its commitment to environmental stewardship and continuous improvement in sustainability in its maritime operations. The port first achieved the voluntary maritime industry certification in 2021 and has successfully maintained the rigorous environmental certification annually since then. 

To maintain certification, participants must annually benchmark their environmental performance, demonstrate measurable progress, and undergo verification by an accredited independent auditor. The program evaluates performance across key environmental indicators, including greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, waste management, spill prevention, community impacts and environmental leadership. 

“Achieving Green Marine recertification for the fifth consecutive year reflects the dedication of our Wharves Board of Trustees, employees, tenants and industry partners to protecting our environment while supporting economic growth,” said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO. “Green Marine provides a framework that helps us identify opportunities, measure progress and continuously improve our environmental performance.

The Port of Galveston has implemented a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving air quality and reducing its environmental footprint. Recent efforts include the following:

• Achieving global Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications for cruise terminals 10 and 16
• Installing 28 electric vehicle charging stations for cruise parking customers
• Advancing proposed shore power projects that would allow vessels to connect to shoreside electricity instead of running diesel-powered engines while docked
• Supporting the use of cleaner marine fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG)
• Conducting emissions inventories and pursuing grant-funded projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality throughout its facilities
• Reducing waste with expanded recycling initiatives and partnerships with tenants to recycle materials 
• Partnering with Texas A&M University – Galveston to understand the impacts of underwater noise on marine life

Read more: PortofGalveston.com/Green Marine

About the Port of Galveston

Located at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, the Port of Galveston has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825. Just 45 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo, commercial and shipbuilding businesses. 

The port is the fourth-ranked cruise home port in the U.S. with four cruise terminals. In 2026 the port forecasts 446 sailings and 3.9 million passenger movements, a new record for the port. 

The port also leases and maintains a wide range of cargo facilities on the deep-water Galveston Harbor, which is ranked among the top 40 busiest U.S. cargo waterways. The Galveston Wharves is a self-sustaining city entity whose mission is to generate and reinvest port revenues to benefit the Galveston community with economic growth, jobs and sales tax revenues. www.portofgalveston.com

Media Contact: Kathy Thomas, kathy@communitystrategiesllc.com

Communications Director, Galveston Wharves