Sail Traning International
Supporting environmental responsibility in sail training
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and Sail Training International have worked together since 2011 to promote environmental awareness and responsible practices within the sail training community.
Building on this collaboration and Blue Flag’s experience with beaches, marinas and tourism boats, FEE and Sail Training International have been exploring the development of a Blue Flag framework specifically adapted to sail training vessels and Tall Ships.
The SAGRES Ship in the Parade of Sail during The Tall Ships Races 2006 in Lisbon
Blue Flag Sail Training Vessel initiative
The initiative aims to establish requirements relevant to the operation of sail training vessels, including environmental management, environmental education, responsible operational practices and engagement of crew and trainees.
A pilot phase was conducted during the 2025 sailing season, enabling participating vessels to test draft requirements and provide feedback on their clarity, relevance and feasibility.
Feedback and experience gathered through the pilot are being used to inform the further development of the initiative.
“ “The marine environment is deteriorating almost everywhere around the world and people who go to sea have an important role in its protection. We are delighted to have Sail Training International’s support and look forward to working through them with vessel operators and the young trainee crew members to really ‘make a difference’.”
Why involve sail training vessels?
Sail training provides a valuable opportunity to engage crew members and trainees with marine environmental issues and responsible practices at sea.
Through the initiative, participating vessels can:
contribute practical experience to the development of the Blue Flag requirements;
engage crew members and trainees in environmental education and responsible practices;
exchange experiences and good practices with other participating vessels; and
contribute to the development of a consistent framework adapted to the sail training sector.
Participation in a pilot or development phase does not in itself constitute Blue Flag certification unless explicitly stated.
Find out more
For further information about the Blue Flag Sail Training Vessel initiative and its current status, please contact Blue Flag International or Sail Training International.
For more information on the Sail Training International Blue Flag Scheme click here.