Marine Environmental Protection Alliance

What Marine Environmental Protection Alliance does

Marine Environmental Protection Alliance (MEPA) is a US-based non-profit advocacy organization (DBA: MEPA) whose singular strategic priority is opposing ship exhaust gas cleaning systems, commonly known as scrubbers, and securing a total ban on their use. The organization frames itself as a coalition of individuals and groups concerned with marine ecosystem conservation and cites evidence that 45+ countries across 90+ jurisdictions have enacted scrubber discharge restrictions, 86% of which are full bans, while scrubber installations grew from approximately 250 vessels in 2015 to over 5,000 by 2024. MEPA's core product is a publicly accessible database cataloging scrubber-fitted vessels, segmented by ship type (bulk carriers, cruise ships, container ships, tankers) with owner/operator attribution, enabling targeted advocacy against specific shipping companies. Its Managing Director is Robin Traficanti, with headcount reported at 11-50 employees and no disclosed incorporation date, parent company, or capital structure.

MEPA's broader product surface includes the Scrubber Pollution Campaign (scientific research, factsheets, public outreach), a Carbon Footprint Calculator for individual behavioral engagement, a Petitions and Open Letters Platform enabling supporters to contact shipping companies and policymakers, and an email newsletter subscription service. These resources are distributed via its website (mepalliance.org), X/Twitter (@MEPAlliance), and LinkedIn. MEPA does not sell products or services; it operates as an informational and advocacy platform funded through donations, grants, and membership contributions, with no disclosed revenue, funding rounds, or institutional investors. Distribution is global, and the organization explicitly invites coalition collaboration.

Strategically, MEPA has aligned with the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (Helmepa) and Lloyd's Register Foundation through the five-year Metavasea project (2025), focused on human-centred maritime workforce transition rather than MEPA's core scrubber advocacy. The organization's technology stack is not disclosed, and there is no evidence of proprietary software, AI/ML capability, patents, certifications, or acquisitions. MEPA functions as a content-and-advocacy platform rather than a technology product company, with its competitive position anchored in its vessel database, regulatory tracking across jurisdictions, and supporter mobilization infrastructure.

Name

Marine Environmental Protection Alliance

Legal name

Marine Environmental Protection Alliance

Website

https://mepalliance.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marine Environmental Protection Alliance (MEPA) is a US-based non-profit advocacy organization campaigning for a total ban on ship exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers). It operates a scrubber-fitted vessel database, petitions platform, and educational resources for environmental advocates, NGOs, and policymakers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MEPA is a nonprofit advocacy coalition campaigning for a total ban on polluting ship scrubbers, anchored by a publicly accessible database of scrubber-fitted vessels categorized by ship type (Bulk Carriers, Cruise Ships, Container Ships, Tankers) with owner/operator information. The organization supplements the database with a Scrubber Pollution Campaign featuring scientific research, a web-based Carbon Footprint Calculator, a Petitions and Open Letters Platform for grassroots action, and an email newsletter subscription service to keep supporters informed.

Product overview

MEPA operates as an environmental advocacy coalition offering a suite of resources focused on marine pollution prevention, centered on its campaign for a total ban on ship scrubbers. The core product is the Scrubber-Fitted Ships Database, a publicly accessible registry documenting vessels equipped with scrubbers, organized by vessel type (Bulk Carriers, Cruise Ships, Container Ships, Tankers) with company ownership details to support targeted advocacy. Supporting offerings include the Scrubber Pollution Campaign with educational materials and scientific research, a Carbon Footprint Calculator for individual environmental awareness, Newsletter Subscription for campaign updates, and a Petitions and Open Letters Platform for collective advocacy action. The organization functions primarily as an informational and advocacy platform rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• List of Scrubber-Fitted Ships Database A publicly accessible database cataloging vessels equipped with exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers), organized by ship type including Bulk Carriers, Cruise Ships, Container Ships, and Tankers, with company ownership information to support advocacy and accountability efforts targeting polluting operators.
• Scrubber Pollution Campaign An advocacy campaign delivering scientific research, factsheets, and public outreach materials that document the environmental damage caused by ship scrubbers and call for a total ban on their use.
• Carbon Footprint Calculator A web-based environmental impact tool that allows individuals to calculate their personal carbon footprint, supporting awareness and behavioral change tied to ocean and climate protection.
• Petitions and Open Letters Platform An online platform enabling supporters to sign petitions and send open letters to shipping companies and policymakers calling for scrubber bans and broader marine protection measures.
• Newsletter Subscription Email newsletter subscription ('I'm On Board!' mailing list) keeping subscribers informed about marine environmental issues, scrubber pollution campaign updates, and opportunities for advocacy action.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45+ countries have enacted scrubber restrictions, demonstrating global regulatory momentum MEPA advocates have contributed to
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (Helmepa)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Helmepa coordinates the Metavasea project, a five-year initiative aimed at promoting a human-centred transition for the maritime sector through education, training, and stakeholder collaboration. This partnership focuses on workforce transition rather than MEPA's core scrubber ban advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Oceana: Large international ocean-conservation advocacy organization running marine-pollution campaigns; comparable to MEPA in mission and advocacy tactics but far broader in scope (overfishing, plastics, habitat) than MEPA's narrow scrubber focus.
• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: Global marine conservation NGO known for direct-action campaigns against whaling, drift-netting, and illegal fishing; comparable to MEPA as a marine advocacy NGO, though with a confrontational direct-action approach versus MEPA's database-and-petitions model.
• Earthjustice: US-based environmental law organization that litigates and advocates on air and water pollution including marine issues; comparable to MEPA in pursuing environmental accountability against industrial polluters, though via litigation rather than petition-driven advocacy.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Major US-based environmental advocacy organization that runs shipping and marine-emissions campaigns (e.g., MethaneSAT, vessel-pollution work); comparable to MEPA in engaging shipping-industry pollution issues, though from a much broader environmental policy portfolio.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major US environmental advocacy group with active oceans and shipping-emissions portfolio; comparable to MEPA in marine pollution advocacy but with vastly larger staff, donor base, and institutional footprint.
• Greenpeace International: Global environmental advocacy organization with significant oceans program targeting shipping, industrial fishing, and ocean pollution; comparable as an environmental advocacy peer with substantially larger scale, brand recognition, and budget than MEPA.

Emerging players

• Surfrider Foundation: US-based coastal/ocean advocacy organization running campaigns on coastal water quality and marine pollution; comparable to MEPA in grassroots advocacy and petition-driven campaigns, though focused on surf zones rather than commercial shipping emissions.
• Pacific Environment: Advocacy NGO running shipping-emissions and Arctic marine-protection campaigns; comparable to MEPA in directly targeting shipping-industry pollution, with overlapping tactics (corporate accountability, regulatory advocacy).

Direct peers

• Helmepa (Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association): Greek marine-environment NGO with overlapping mission (voluntary shipping-industry pollution reduction) and an active direct partner of MEPA on the Metavasea workforce-transition project; the closest functional peer in the Mediterranean shipping-emissions space.
• Clean Shipping Coalition: Industry-influenced NGO coalition advocating for tighter air-pollution rules in shipping, including opposition to scrubbers as a compliance mechanism; the most direct thematic peer to MEPA, sharing the specific scrubber-ban advocacy position.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MEPAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marine-environmental-protection-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marine Environmental Protection Alliance