BECOMING A MEMBER

Membership types

The ecosystem of shipping finance extends beyond the scope of signatories, so the framework is evolving to include additional perspectives and support. As of December 2025, there are now two types of membership within the Poseidon Principles Association:

Signatory membership applicable to relevant lenders, lessors, and financial guarantors, including export credit agencies (ECA). Signatories must report on all business activities:

• that are credit products (including bilateral loans, syndicated loans, club deals, and guarantees) secured by vessel mortgages, finance leases secured by title over vessel, or unmortgaged ECA loans tied to a vessel; and
• where a vessel or vessels fall under the purview of the IMO, e.g., vessels engaged in international voyages with a gross tonnage of 5,000 and above that have an established Poseidon Principles trajectory whereby the emissions intensity can be measured with IMO DCS data.

While associate membership is applicable to:

• Financial institutions that underwrite and arrange transactions for the shipping industry in the debt and capital markets, including those that have business activities outside the current reporting scope (for example, those that lend on an unsecured basis).
• Financial institutions that have business activities that do fall within the reporting scope but are not ready to report the climate alignment of their portfolio (in this case, adjusting membership to a signatory will be encouraged within three years).
• Institutions which provide insurance products or conduct other business activities relevant to the marine insurance industry in relation to vessels within the reporting scope.

Expectactions & pathways

• Signatories commit to implementing the four principles in their internal policies, procedures, and standards and to work in partnership with their clients and partners on an ongoing basis to implement the Poseidon Principles. Signatories are required to annually report the climate alignment of their shipping portfolios in accordance with the principles.
• Associate members show their support for the Poseidon Principles and are encouraged to use the methodology in their own reports, but have no formal reporting requirements, except for marine insurers, on a voluntary basis.

See below the different pathways:

How to concretely join?

Institutions wishing to become a signatory or an associate member of the Poseidon Principles must:

• Complete and send the Standard Declaration, Application, and Membership Agreement to the secretariat.
• For signatories only: complete and submit the Self-Assessment to the Secretariat within five months of becoming a signatory.
• Pay the relevant fees.

All relevant documents are available from the secretariat.

Upon joining, signatories and associate members automatically become members of the Poseidon Principles Association, the non-profit association responsible for maintaining and promoting the principles.