Blue Flag International

Marina Criteria

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
  • Environmental information about natural sensitive nearby land and marine areas is supplied to marina users (i).

  • Code of environmental conduct is posted in the marina (i).

  • Information about the Blue Flag Marina Programme and/or the Blue Flag Marina Criteria are posted in the marina (i).

  • The marina should be able to demonstrate that at least three environmental education activities are offered to the users and staff of the marina (i)
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
  • Production of an environmental policy and plan at the marina. The plan should include references to water, waste and energy consumption, health and safety issues, and the use of environmentally sound products when available (i).
  • Adequate and properly identified and segregated containers for the storage of hazardous wastes (paints, solvents, boat scrapings, antifouling agents, batteries, waste oil, flares). The wastes should be handled by a licensed contractor and disposed of at a licensed facility for hazardous waste (i).

  • Adequate and well managed litterbins and/or garbage containers. The wastes should be handled by a licensed contractor and disposed of by a licensed facility (i).

  • The marina has facilities for receiving recyclable waste materials, such as bottles, cans, paper, plastic, organic material, etc. (i).

  • Bilge water pumping facilities are present in the marina (g).

  • Toilet pumping facilities are present in the marina (g).

  • All buildings and equipment must be properly maintained and in compliance with national legislation. The marina must be in a good integration with the surrounding natural and built environment (i).

  • Adequate, clean and well sign-posted sanitary facilities, including washing facilities and drinking water. Controlled sewage disposal to a licensed sewage treatment (i).

  • If the marina has boat repairing and washing areas, no pollution must enter the sewage system, marina land and water or the natural surroundings (i).

  • Promotion of sustainable transportation (g).

  • No parking/driving in the marina, unless in specific designated areas (i).
SAFETY AND SERVICES
  • Adequate, clean and well sign-posted lifesaving, first-aid equipment and fire-fighting equipment. Equipment must be approved by national authorities (i).

  • Emergency plan in case of pollution, fire or other accidents must be produced (i).

  • Safety precautions and information must be posted at the marina (i).

  • Electricity and water is available at the berths, installations must be approved according to national legislation (i).

  • Facilities for disabled people (g).

  • Map indicating the location of the different facilities is posted at the marina (i).
WATER QUALITY
  • Visually clean water (no oil, litter, sewage or other evidence of pollution) (i).

About the criteria

The award of a Blue Flag marina is based on compliance with 23 criteria covering the aspects:


1) Environmental Education and Information

2) Environmental Management

3) Safety and Services

4) Water Quality

Most criteria are imperative (I) whereas others are guideline (G). All imperative requirements have to be fulfilled, and in addition a maximum number of guideline criteria.

All Blue Flags are only awarded for one season at a time.

If some of the imperative criteria are not fulfilled during the season or the conditions change, the Blue Flag will be withdrawn.
   

Marina Criteria in detail

Here you can download the explanatory notes to the marina criteria explaining in detail the FEE interpretation of the criteria:

Marina criteria in detail (pdf file)