Abstract :-

Sri Lanka is a global pioneer in maritime industry due its strategic location in the mid of busiest shipping routes. Therefore, shipping industry becomes prominent and shipping agents who provide wide range of services to the vessels arriving at ports plays a vital role in economic and environmental sustainability. The purpose ofthis study is to identify the existing green practices, influencing factors, challenges and opportunities when applying green practices to Sri Lankan shipping firms. Thisis primary research conducted using sample of 64 shipping companies registered under Ceylon Association of Ship Agents (CASA). Collected data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative mixed method including descriptive statistics and regression analysis by SPSS. Based on literature, 21 green practices under four categories; company policy and procedure, office work and documentation, shipping equipment and materials and shipping design for compliance were considered in here. To identify the influencing factors for shipping firms when applying green concept 18 reasons were categorized into 5 factors: rules and regulations, industrial norms, customer request, pressure from competitors and company strategy. Regression analysis conclude that Sri Lankan shipping firms are following green practices at moderate level and driven by industrial norm, customer request and company strategy. As per the categorical distributions 71.88% of companies follow green practices at some level and 90.63% of companies believe adapting to green practices add value to their company. Knowledge, technical and financial barriers found to be more common challenges and employees’ motivation and positive mindset can be utilized as an opportunity