Abstract: Urgency of the research. The growth of maritime trade, increasing pressure on port infrastructure, and intensified environmental challenges determine the need for sustainable models of maritime economic development. Under these conditions, the green port concept is considered an important tool for ensuring environmental safety, resource efficiency, and competitiveness within the framework of the blue economy.

Traditional port operation models are associated with high emissions, significant energy consumption, and negative impacts on marine ecosystems. This necessitates the implementation of environmentally oriented approaches to port infrastructure management and the integration of sustainable development principles. Modern scientific studies still lack a unified approach to defining the essence of a green port and the criteria for assessing its environmental orientation. The relationship between the greening of port activities, Port 4.0 digitalization, and the development of the blue economy also remains insufficiently explored. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the role of the green port concept in ensuring the sustainable development of the blue economy, systematize the criteria for assessing the environmental orientation of ports, and analyze the implementation of environmental initiatives in leading world ports. The study is based on methods of theoretical generalization, system and comparative analysis, synthesis, and structural-logical modeling. Modern approaches to the interpretation of the blue economy and the role of ports in its development are generalized. The essence of the green port concept is revealed as an integrated model of port infrastructure management combining economic efficiency, environmental responsibility, and social orientation.

Criteria for assessing the environmental orientation of ports are systematized according to social, economic, and environmental parameters. A comparative analysis of traditional and green port models is conducted, and environmental initiatives of leading world ports are analyzed. At the same time, the research identifies key barriers to implementation, including technological constraints, financial limitations, regulatory challenges, and organizational complexity. It is proved that the implementation of the green port concept contributes to reducing environmental pressure, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring the sustainable development of the blue economy.