BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
The "Ports Propres" (Clean Harbours) Label: What It Means for a Rental Boat Stopover
Waste sorting, wastewater pump-out, controlled hull maintenance: the Ports Propres label certifies a marina's environmental practices. What it actually means for a stopover on a rented boat, and how it differs from Blue Flag.
On a marina pontoon, a sign sometimes carries the "Ports Propres" logo. Few renters know what it actually certifies — here's what the label covers, distinct from the Blue Flag, which mostly concerns beaches.
A French label turned international standard
Ports Propres was launched in France in 2008, adopted at European level in 2012, and turned in June 2024 into the international standard ISO 18725 "Clean Harbours" — the only international environmental certification specifically dedicated to marinas. More than 130 marinas are now certified in France, from the Mediterranean to Brittany and the Atlantic coast. The approach is voluntary, and a marina's practices are audited by an independent body.
What the label actually requires
- Waste sorting and collection: sorting points accessible to boaters, including hazardous waste such as batteries and used oil.
- Wastewater management: pump-out facilities for black and grey water on boats fitted for it, avoiding direct discharge into the basin.
- Controlled hull maintenance: antifouling paint residue, rich in copper and biocides, must be collected on a dedicated area rather than washed into the water.
Why hull maintenance is a genuine issue
That last point isn't a minor detail: the landmark review by Turner, published in 2010 in Marine Pollution Bulletin, shows that antifouling paint particles generated by hull maintenance are a measurable source of metal pollution in marinas (see the study on Google Scholar). Our guide to antifouling paint and hull maintenance details the impact and the alternatives.
What it changes for a renter
A rental boat is generally neither painted nor pumped out by the renter — that responsibility stays with the operator or the boatyard. But a stopover in a certified marina translates concretely into working pump-out and sanitary facilities, clear sorting instructions on the pontoon, and generally cleaner basin water for a swim back at the dock.
Compare before you book
The label doesn't yet appear systematically on platform listings, but the list of certified marinas is public on ports-propres.org. On Boat-Comparator, compare offers from Boataround, SamBoat and Click&Boat across our French marinas.
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