FAQs How to join the Ocean Centres?

In addition to becoming a formal Member, organisations can join the Ocean Centres as Knowledge Partners or Ally Partners. Each of these three roles offers a different level of engagement, allowing diverse actors to contribute according to their capacity and mission:

• Members are organisations from the business sector, government institutions, and civil society that can serve as champions of change. They are formally integrated into the initiative at the national level and play a key role in shaping and advancing the goals of the Ocean Centres. Members contribute primarily through active participation in a series of 10 strategic workshops designed to foster high-impact dialogue and support the development of safety-oriented national regulations, policies, and standards. The categories of eligible organisations are further detailed in Question 2.
• Knowledge Partners are organisations or individuals recognized by their technical expertise in safety and sustainability fields that are essential to advancing the blue economy. They contribute by sharing trusted knowledge and resources, by speaking in learning sessions and workshops, and by supporting collaborative activities led by the Ocean Centres.
• Ally Partners are organisations outside the private sector and individuals — including youth and ECOPs (Early Career Ocean Professionals) — who help amplify the mission of the Ocean Centres based on shared values. While not directly involved in technical implementation or learning activities, they play an essential role in raising awareness, promoting the initiative’s principles, and enhancing its visibility and legitimacy at national, regional, and global levels.

Ocean Centres are open to any organisation that can demonstrate their role in advancing a safe and sustainable blue economy in countries where they are located. Since it is a multi-stakeholder platform, we welcome participation from: private sector (large, medium and small-scale businesses), governmental institutions, regulators, intergovernmental agencies, trade unions, NGOs, financial institutions and banks, academia and research institutes, as well as community-led and grassroots organisations, traditional and indigenous associations, youth-led associations, and sustainability-focused movements, among others. 

Individuals can join the Ocean Centres as Knowledge Partners if they’re Safety Experts, or as Ally Partners if they can help disseminate the Ocean Centre’ messages, as described in Question 1.

These stakeholders fall into 2 categories:

CATEGORY 1: Business organisations with more than 10 employees;

CATEGORY 2: Business organisations with fewer than 10 employees, all other non-business organisations, and individuals.

NOTE: Organisations working to advance technical and engineering standards and skills, including tech companies and start-ups, can play a significant role as part of our solutions ecosystem.

Members of the Ocean Centres gain a seat at the table, contributing directly to the initiative’s core activities and strategic conversations. Key benefits include:

• Drive change and influence in high-level discussions that shape safety and sustainability policies for ocean industries and government agendas;
• Receive guidance to access blue finance, including funding mechanisms and partnerships with responsible investors;
• Join funded projects and initiatives focused on advancing safety, innovation, and sustainability,
• Participate in targeted workshops and capacity-building sessions tailored to local needs and sector-specific expertise;
• Leverage tools and guidance to adopt safe and sustainable business practices — enhancing your organisation’s appeal to responsible investors;
• Collaborate across sectors to co-develop practical recommendations that inform local regulations, policies and standards;
• Access global and local networks of experts and peers committed to improving safety and sustainability in ocean industries and other sectors;
• Gain visibility and credibility as a recognised contributor to a global initiative advancing safety in the blue economy, and be featured on the Ocean Centres website.

Knowledge Partners play a vital role in shaping a shared understanding of key issues. They collaborate with the Ocean Centres by sharing expertise, insights, resources, and tools that strengthen the initiative’s learning and technical work. Key benefits include:

• Networking with other organizations in Lloyd’ Register Foundation Community;
• Influence research priorities of the Global Centre for Safety Evidence;
• Participate in knowledge-sharing activities across Centres, including workshops, co-creation spaces, and cross-country learning sessions;
• Connect with an international community of organisations advancing safety and sustainability in the blue economy.
• Gain visibility on the Ocean Centres website and communications as a recognised source of trusted knowledge;

Ally Partners – organisations and individuals – help amplify the Ocean Centres’ mission and values through their networks and institutional platforms, contributing to the initiative’s visibility and reach. Key benefits include:

• Be recognized as trusted allies committed to promoting safety in the blue economy;
• Join exclusive webinars and briefings on emerging topics and findings from the Ocean Centres;
• Have early access to insights and recommendations, helping them stay ahead of the curve in their own work and communication strategies;
• Engage in a global network of actors aligned around shared goals — even if they are not involved in technical implementation and decision-making;
• FOR INDIVIDUALS: the possibility of being recognised as an Ocean Centres Ambassador – youth advocates, Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs), content creators, students and professionals who actively promote the Ocean Centres through their social media or community engagement may receive this honorary, non-contractual title, accompanied by clear guidance for engagement.

STEP 1

By Invitation

Organisations and individuals may be directly invited by representatives of the Ocean Centres working at the UN Global Compact or the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

By Application

Organisations and individuals can express their interest to become a Member, a Knowledge Partner or an Ally Partner of the Ocean Centres by filling this FORM and letting us know about their interest and contribution that fits with one of the categories above.

STEP 2

Organisations invited to join the Ocean Centres, as well as approved applicants, will receive a formal Invitation Letter and must verify whether they fall into Category 1 or to Category 2.

If they belong to Category 1

Before joining the Ocean Centres, companies with more than 10 employees must become members of the United Nations Global Compact and an affiliate of a UN Global Compact Country Network. Please follow Steps 3 and 4. 

If they belong to Category 2

Companies with fewer than 10 employees, non-business organisations and individuals can become Members of the Ocean Centres without formally joining the United Nations Global Compact and an affiliate UN Global Compact Country Network. No additional action is required. 

NOTE 1: Individuals and organisations classified as Category 2 may skip Steps 3 and 4. The same applies to Category 1 companies that have already joined the UN Global Compact and are affiliated with a UN Global Compact Country Network

NOTE 2: Companies that have already joined the UN Global Compact at the global level can skip Step 3.

STEP 3

This session is intended for organisations that fall under Category 1 and are not yet participants of the United Nations Global Compact.

In order to become a Member of one of our Ocean Centres, organisations must first join the United Nations Global Compact, and then affiliate with the UN Global Compact Country Network hosting the Ocean Centre they wish to join (Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, or the Philippines).

This FAQ outlines the Membership criteria and provides answers to additional questions. 

By entering this LINK an organisation can submit its application to join the United Nations Global Compact.

Once a company has submitted its application, it may begin participating as a Provisional Member in all non-public facing Ocean Centre activities (e.g., roundtables, workshops, etc). To obtain provisional (or temporary) status, the company must inform the Ocean Centres’s Country Lead and forward the email confirmation that proves the application has been submitted. A decision on this application is typically provided within 14 business days. 

STEP 4

Once a company becomes a member of the United Nations Global Compact, they can then apply to join their desired affiliate Country Network (see below). Once approved by the Country Network, the company will become an official member of the Ocean Centres initiative.

UN Global Compact Brazil

UN Global Compact Ghana

UN Global Compact Kenya

UN Global Compact India

UN Global Compact Bangladesh 

UN Global Compact Indonesia

UN Global Compact Philippines

There are no membership fees required to join the Ocean Centres in any of the three roles. However, Category 1organisations must first join the United Nations Global Compact and its affiliated Country Network in order to become Ocean Centres Members. Depending on the company’s size and revenue, an annual membership fee may apply to join the UN Global Compact or its Country Network. Fee structures vary according to the policies of each national network. An overview of the United Nations Global Compact’s annual membership fees can be found here.

Organisations and individuals joining the Ocean Centres are expected to commit time and resources to actively contribute, in alignment with their designated role and level of engagement as outlined in Question 1 — for example, by attending workshops, sharing sectoral or technical expertise, supporting collaborative activities, or helping to amplify the initiative’s mission.

It depends. As each Ocean Centre addresses issues relevant to ocean industries in its host country – engaging local stakeholders who influence or are influenced by national policies, regulations, and standards – organisations should either: 1) be based in one of the seven Ocean Centres countries; or 2) operate actively in the broader region where that country is located. In the second case, the organisation should align with one specific Ocean Centre and focus its engagement on that country.

Yes. Organisations with a presence or active operations in multiple countries where Ocean Centres are located may join more than one Centre. However, they must clearly outline their engagement scope for each Centre and ensure they have the capacity to contribute meaningfully in each context.

No. Membership is open only to organisations or recognised movements, as described in Question 1. Individuals can just engage with the Ocean Centres as Knowledge Partners and Ally Partners.

Yes. They can join the Ocean Stewardship Coalition — a global initiative convened by the United Nations Global Compact to accelerate private sector action and transform ocean-related industries through science-based, inclusive approaches that promote Safety, Equity, and Sustainability. Depending on company size and revenue there may be an additional membership fee to join the Ocean Stewardship Coalition. 

Yes. Category 2 organisations can join the coalition and participate in workshops and discussions. However, many of the Ocean Stewardship Coalition's offerings may only be relevant to Category 1 participants.

Knowledge Partners and Ally Partners can join the initiative at any time. However, formal Members are expected to begin participating in Ocean Centres workshops – the core engagement activity – no later than the third session. This timeline may vary depending on the onboarding process of each of the seven Ocean Centres. To check the calendar of activities and specific deadlines, we invite you to visit the FAQ section available on each Ocean Centre’s dedicated page. Exceptional cases will be reviewed by the Strategic Advisory Committee upon request from the respective Ocean Centres’ Country Lead.

Yes. Members can engage with the Ocean Centre’s activities remotely through online platforms.

Each Ocean Centre will determine the most appropriate language to be used during workshops and other local activities, based on the country’s spoken languages and their own criteria for ensuring inclusivity. English may be used where considered appropriate in national contexts and for cross-country online activities. When needed, we will make every effort to provide translation support to ensure inclusivity.

Yes. Members, Knowledge Partners, and Ally Partners are encouraged to propose relevant topics for discussion within the Ocean Centres activities they participate in, provided they align with the focus of our four Action Areas. All proposals will be reviewed by the Centre’s coordination team and, if appropriate, incorporated into ongoing discussions

Members are expected to attend workshops and participate in ongoing knowledge-sharing or co-creation activities. The time commitment depends on the guidelines established by each Ocean Centre. We invite you to visit the FAQ section of the Ocean Centre you’re interested in joining to find this information.

Yes. Participating organisations may be listed on the Ocean Centres website and in official communications to acknowledge their role and contributions. If there are any confidentiality concerns, please discuss them with your Ocean Centres contact and they will be addressed on a case-by-case basis

As specified in Questions 1 and 2, Ocean Centres follow a multi-stakeholder model that actively includes voices from all sectors and social groups. The governance structure is designed to promote equity and inclusivity, with opportunities for grassroots, indigenous, and youth-led organisations to participate in advisory processes and co-design activities.

Each of these seven UN Global Compact Country Networks has its own policies for participant engagement. Eligibility may vary depending on whether the applying organisation is business or non-business, large or small. Annual fees also differ according to the type of organisation. For more details, we recommend visiting the website of the respective Country Network to learn who is eligible and how to join. 

Yes. Organisations can withdraw at any time by notifying the coordination team in writing. While no penalties apply, we encourage departing members to complete any ongoing collaborative work or provide sufficient notice to ensure a smooth transition.

Not at the moment. We’re focused on sharing our main news through our website and through regular newsletters that will be sent from the second half of the year.

Yes. Starting in the second half of the year, we will begin sending quarterly newsletters with updates on the Ocean Centres initiative throughout the countries. To receive the newsletter, please make sure to fill out this FORM.