What Green Award Foundation does

Green Award Foundation is a Dutch non-profit foundation established in 1994 and headquartered in Rotterdam that operates a quality, safety, and environmental certification scheme for commercial ships. It runs two programs: a sea-shipping certification launched in 1994 and an inland-shipping certification launched in 2011, both structured as a tiered framework (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum). The foundation certifies ships against its published criteria and partners with more than 50 incentive providers — primarily ports, bunker suppliers, and maritime service companies — that offer discounts, priority berthing, or fee reimbursements to certified vessels; many incentive providers reimburse 100% of certification costs for ship owners calling at their facilities.

The foundation has progressively extended its product surface beyond safety/quality certification into environmental compliance and emissions disclosure. In 2022 it launched GHG Emissions Labelling, and in December 2023 it launched the Ship Waste Module, which is aligned with EU Regulation 2022/91 on ship recycling and port reception facility handling. A CO2 Registration Portal provides ship-level emissions data infrastructure. These modules are positioned to make Green Award a compliance platform for ship owners, charterers, and ports navigating tightening EU and IMO environmental rules.

The revenue model is fee-based: ship owners pay certification fees per vessel per tier, while incentive-provider reimbursements are effectively pass-through and lower the net cost to ship owners without driving foundation revenue. The organization is staffed at roughly 11-50 employees (approximately 20 per public team listings). Its customer base spans European operators (Stolt Tankers, De Boer Remorquage, and inland fleets in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland) and is expanding into Asia, marked by Yokkaichi Port joining as an incentive provider in 2026 and the certification of MOL Global Ship Management.

Name

Green Award Foundation

Legal name

Green Award Foundation

Website

https://greenaward.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Green Award Foundation is a Rotterdam-based non-profit (founded 1994) that certifies commercial sea and inland ships under a tiered quality/safety/environmental scheme. It serves ship owners with certified vessels and partners with 50+ ports and maritime service providers that offer fee discounts and reimbursements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support) (TLAHANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classification Society & Flag-State Liaison / Plan Approval Support (IMAJAGAN), Vessel Vetting & Due Diligence Services (SIRE/CDI, Terminal Vetting) (TLAHANAE)

Keywords

• Ship certification services
• Maritime environmental certification
• Sustainable shipping standards
• Inland vessel certification
• Maritime quality assurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ship Certification Services: Green Award generates revenue through certification fees charged to ships and shipping companies seeking Green Award certification. The certification process includes surveys, audits, and issuance of certificates at various levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Green Award Foundation operates a voluntary quality assessment certification scheme that inspects and certifies seagoing and inland vessels exceeding industry standards in safety, quality, and environmental performance. Ships are awarded tiered Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum certificates, and certified vessels gain access to discounts and benefits from a network of 50+ ports and maritime service providers acting as incentive providers.

Product overview

Green Award Foundation offers a certification and incentive program for shipping that includes two core certification programs: Sea Shipping Certification and Inland Shipping Certification. Both programs operate on a tiered Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum certification system that recognizes ships exceeding industry standards in safety, quality, and environmental performance. Supporting sub-products include GHG Labels (CO2 & CH4) for emissions certification, the Ship Waste Module for EU Regulation compliance, and a CO2 Registration Portal for emissions data tracking. The organization connects certified vessels with incentive providers including ports and maritime service suppliers who offer tangible benefits such as port fee discounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Award Sea Shipping Certification A voluntary quality assessment certification scheme that inspects and certifies seagoing ships exceeding industry standards in safety, quality, and environmental performance, awarded at Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels. Designed for owners and operators of seagoing vessels (bulk carriers, chemical tankers, container carriers, LNG/LPG carriers, oil tankers).
• Green Award Inland Shipping Certification A certification program for inland navigation vessels (tankers, cargo ships, container barges, river cruise vessels) operating on European waterways such as the Rhine and Danube, assessing safety, quality, and environmental performance and awarding Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification levels.
• GHG Labels (CO2 & CH4) Greenhouse gas emissions labelling for ships that certifies vessels based on their CO2 and CH4 emissions performance, helping identify and recognize clean, low-emission vessels.
• Ship Waste Module (EU Regulation) A module enabling European ports to implement EU Regulation 2022/91 regarding ship waste management, supporting regulatory compliance for port authorities and shipping companies.
• CO2 Registration Portal A portal allowing Green Award certificate holders to record and share their ship's CO2 emissions data, providing valuable insights and enabling financial benefits with incentive providers such as the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ports offer up to 100% reimbursement of certification costs for certified vessels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Crossworld MarineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2026Crossworld Marine joined Green Award as Incentive Provider, supporting sustainable crew management in shipping. They provide incentives to certified vessels.
• Yokkaichi PortminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 March 2026Japanese port joining as Incentive Provider, strengthening sustainable shipping in Japan.
• MOL Global Ship ManagementcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 February 2026MOL Global Ship Management became MOL Group's third certified company by Green Award.
• Skaramangas ShipyardsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025European shipyard joining as Incentive Provider, strengthening support from growing European shipyard sector.
• UW GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025UW Group joined as Incentive Provider, supporting safety and sustainability in maritime operations.
• Port of Antwerp-BrugescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 January 2024Port of Antwerp-Bruges joined as Incentive Provider offering 10% discount on port fees for Gold-certified inland vessels and 15% for Platinum level.
• Peterson NederlandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2023Leading provider of testing, inspection and logistics services reimburses 100% of certificate costs for ships sailing under fixed contract.
• Stolt TankerscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2023Stolt Tankers, world's largest chemical tanker operator, reimburses 100% of Green Award certification costs for inland tankers under contract with them.
• Port of RotterdamcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor port offering up to 100% discount on inland port dues for Platinum level Green Award vessels, 30% for Gold level.
• Port of AmsterdamcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPort offering tiered discounts: Bronze 5%, Silver 10%, Gold 15%, Platinum 20% on port dues.
• NPRC (Coöperatie NPRC U.A.)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerReimburses 100% of certification costs for members starting 2022.
• PTC GroepcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerContributes 100% of certification fee for members and permanent relation vessels.
• DGA ShippingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerReimburses 100% of certification costs for ships operating in permanent employment through binding contract.
• HGK Shipping GmbHcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerReimburses 100% of certification costs for vessels in permanent employment with HGK Shipping, HGK Dry Shipping, or Royal Wijgula.
• Port of UtrechtcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers 30% discount on harbour dues to certified inland navigation vessels.
• Scylla Shipping AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRiver cruise docking company offering 5-15% discounts on mooring fees at various German locations (Düsseldorf, Traben-Trarbach, etc.).
• Port of YokohamacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Japanese port driving decarbonization at scale, joined as Incentive Provider.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company with a Marine & Offshore division providing ship classification services. Offers comparable ship certification services and sustainability verification products competing with Green Award's environmental certification.
• DNV: DNV is the world's largest classification society providing ship classification, certification, and verification services including environmental and decarbonization ratings. Directly competes with Green Award in the maritime certification space and offers overlapping sustainability assurance products.
• ClassNK: ClassNK is Japan's ship classification society, the world's largest by gross tonnage classified. Provides ship classification and certification services including environmental performance ratings, overlapping directly with Green Award's certification offering in the Asian market where Green Award is expanding.
• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS): ABS is a major classification society providing ship classification, statutory certification, and sustainability services including the ABS Sustainability and Environmental Advisory program. Direct competitor in ship quality, safety, and environmental certification.
• Lloyd's Register: Lloyd's Register is a leading classification society providing ship classification and statutory certification services. Operates in the same maritime certification and environmental assurance space, with extensive surveyor networks globally that overlap with Green Award's target market.
• Korea Register of Shipping: KR is the Korean ship classification society providing classification, statutory certification, and marine environmental services. Competes with Green Award in ship certification and offers overlapping sustainability ratings and decarbonization verification services.
• RINA: RINA is an Italian classification society providing ship classification, certification, and marine sustainability services. Competes directly in the European maritime certification market and offers comparable environmental and decarbonization advisory for shipping.

Emerging players

• RightShip: RightShip provides maritime due diligence, vessel vetting, and ESG ratings focused on bulk carriers and tankers. Overlaps with Green Award's environmental and safety verification services, particularly for charterers and shippers evaluating vessel performance.

Broad incumbents

• TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD is a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company operating broadly across industries including maritime. Provides ship inspection, certification, and environmental verification services as part of a wider industrial TIC portfolio.

Others

• Clean Shipping Coalition: Clean Shipping Coalition is an NGO representing environmental interests in maritime policy. While not a direct competitor, it works in the same maritime sustainability advocacy space and influences the regulatory and incentive landscape that Green Award's certification depends on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-award-foundation
• Xx.com/Green_Award
• Facebookfacebook.com/GreenAwardFoundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 Green Award Foundation