Edition I · MMXXVI · Strictly By Invitation

Galápagos
Maritime Summit

The first integrated maritime governance dialogue convened within the Galápagos National Park, bringing together 15 to 20 senior decision-makers from government, science, industry, and international institutions to develop the Galápagos Maritime Framework: a preliminary, non-binding reference document on ocean stewardship integrating security, conservation, science and industry — drafted with participants during the Summit. Formal adoption is reserved for future editions.

Dates 17 — 19 November 2026
Location Puerto Ayora, Galápagos
Format Invitation Only
GMS 2026
— First Edition —
15–20 Senior
Decision-Makers
III Days of
Closed Dialogue
I Preliminary
Framework
Begin
Time to Summit · Tiempo al Summit
--
DAYS · DÍAS
--
HOURS · HORAS
--
MINUTES · MINUTOS
--
SECONDS · SEGUNDOS
November 17, 2026 · Puerto Ayora, Galápagos

The Galápagos Maritime Summit is not open to the public. It is not a networking event. It is a closed strategic dialogue — convened exclusively for the senior leaders who hold direct authority over maritime regulation, certification, and operations in environmentally sensitive territories.

Held within the Galápagos National Park — UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site — the Summit brings together no more than 20 senior figures from international maritime authorities, classification societies, flag state regulators, expedition cruise operations, and technical industry leaders. Three days. No press in the room. No public sessions. No exhibitions.

Participation is strictly by invitation. No press in the room. No public sessions. No commercial exhibitions. The content of discussions stays in the room. The one document that leaves it is the Galápagos Maritime Framework — preliminary, referential and non-binding — intended to inform future cooperation on operations in sensitive ecosystems.

Galápagos is not a backdrop. It is the argument.
Why Galápagos

The world's most
consequential
maritime setting.

The Galápagos Islands are not a backdrop. They are the argument.

Declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1978 — among the first in the world — the Galápagos archipelago represents the planet's most intact oceanic ecosystem. 97% of its territory is protected. Its waters host species found nowhere else on Earth. Its name alone carries a weight that no conference center can replicate.

Convening a maritime dialogue here is not symbolic. It is strategic. The decisions made about maritime operations in Galápagos set the global standard for what responsible maritime activity looks like in any sensitive ecosystem — from Antarctica to the Arctic, from the Amazon delta to the Coral Triangle.

1978
UNESCO Heritage
97%
Protected Territory
I
Summit. One Framework.

Three
strategic pillars

The Summit is built around three interconnected lines of dialogue, designed to produce concrete, applicable outcomes rather than theoretical commitments.

— 01 —

Operational Safety

Definition of operational frameworks applicable to maritime activities in environmentally sensitive ecosystems. Risk management, classification standards, and incident response in protected territories.

— 02 —

Sustainable Operations

Alignment of technical, operational and certification standards across maritime jurisdictions. Next-Generation Technologies for Zero-Impact Maritime Operations and the balance between tourism, operations and conservation.

— 03 —

International Cooperation

Establishment of concrete mechanisms for cooperation between maritime actors across jurisdictions. Contributing to the positioning of Galápagos as a reference point for maritime governance in protected environments.

— 01
Ecuadorian Navy ESMENA · Capitanía Puerto Ayora
Confirmed
— 02
Parque Nacional Galápagos Official institutional delegation
Confirmed
— 03
DIMAR — Dirección General Marítima National Maritime Authority — Colombia · Official Delegation
Confirmed
— 04
Royal Caribbean Premium Maritime Operations — Galápagos · Miami, USA
Confirmed
— 05
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore — Aliado Técnico
Confirmed
— 06
Georg Fischer GF Piping Systems — Marine Americas
Confirmed
— 07
Official Airline Partner Galápagos Routes — Under Coordination
In Coordination
— 08
Expedition Cruise Line Pacific Northwest, USA — Galápagos Expedition Operations
In Coordination
— 09
Destination & Expedition Operator Ecuador — Galápagos Destination Management
In Coordination
— 10
European Diplomatic Representation Institutional Dialogue Initiated — Maritime Cooperation
In Coordination

In keeping with institutional protocol, the names and insignia of participating organizations are published progressively — upon completion of each entity’s corporate and legal authorization process. Confirmation of participation precedes, and remains distinct from, authorization to display an institution’s brand.

For security and confidentiality reasons, the identity of individual participants is not disclosed publicly until after the Summit concludes. Requests for participant information prior to that date are reviewed internally and require the organizer’s express authorization. / Por motivos de seguridad y confidencialidad, la identidad de los participantes no se divulgará públicamente sino hasta después de concluido el Summit. Las solicitudes de información sobre participantes antes de esa fecha se gestionan internamente y requieren autorización expresa del organizador.

Ecuador · National Participants

Invited Institutional
Participants

Ecuador's maritime and conservation institutions, participating as invited institutional guests in accordance with official authorization protocols.

Ecuador 2026
Armada del Ecuador
ESMENA Galápagos — Escuela de la Marina Mercante Nacional
ESMENA
Capitanía de Puerto Ayora
CAPAYO
Autoridad Marítima Nacional

Armada del Ecuador

ESMENA Escuela de la Marina Mercante Nacional — Extensión Galápagos
CAPAYO Capitanía de Puerto Ayora

The national maritime authority of Ecuador, responsible for sovereignty over territorial waters, maritime safety, and ocean governance across the country's aquatic spaces — including the Galápagos Marine Reserve. Participation confirmed through ESMENA Galápagos and the Puerto Ayora Port Authority.

Invited Institutional Participant
Protected Area · Área Protegida
0° PUERTO AYORA
0°44′S90°18′W
Galápagos Marine Reserve
National Park1959
UNESCO Heritage1978
Conservation

Galápagos National Park

Ministerio del Ambiente, Agua y Transición Ecológica

Custodian of the world's most intact oceanic ecosystem and UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. As the environmental authority for the archipelago and its marine reserve, the Park administers visitor sites, carrying capacity and operating conditions across the protected area — the framework within which every maritime operation in Galápagos takes place.

Institutional Participant
Fundación Charles Darwin
Research

Charles Darwin Foundation

Fundación Charles Darwin para las Islas Galápagos

International scientific institution leading research and conservation strategy in the archipelago since 1959.

Institutional Participant

Institutional Authorization Note: The insignia and names of participating Ecuadorian institutions are displayed pursuant to official authorization. This designation confirms participation as invited institutional guests and does not constitute sponsorship, strategic partnership, patronage, or institutional endorsement of the Summit's organizing entity. Participation is confirmed in accordance with each institution's respective authorization and governance frameworks.

International Participants

Regional Maritime
Authorities

Maritime institutions from the region, participating as invited institutional guests within the Summit's inter-institutional coordination framework.

International Maritime Authority

DIMAR — Colombian Maritime Authority

General Maritime Directorate · Ministry of National Defense, Colombia

Institutional participation confirmed, representing the maritime scientific research component.

Invited Institutional Participant

Institutional Authorization Note: Institutional participation is reflected in accordance with official confirmation received. Display of institutional emblems is subject to separate, express authorization from each entity. Certain institutions participate under internal policies that reserve the use of their official emblems; in those cases, and while any authorization remains pending, participation is identified in text form only.

The Convergence

The Americas
converge on Galápagos.

Confirmed institutions and technical allies across the hemisphere — from South Florida to the Andes — converging on Puerto Ayora for three days of closed dialogue.

Mapa de convergencia — las Américas
— 01

Galápagos — Summit Seat

Puerto Ayora · Santa Cruz
Estación Científica Charles Darwin
Main Venue
Parque Nacional Galápagos
Institutional Participant
Armada del Ecuador — ESMENA · CAPAYO
Invited Institutional Participant
Royal Caribbean
Premium Maritime Operations — Galápagos · Miami, USA
Expedition & Destination Operators
In Coordination
Royal Palm Galápagos
Official Hotel
— 02

South Florida — United States

Fort Lauderdale · Miami
Georg Fischer — GF Piping Systems, Marine Americas
GF Piping Systems — Marine Americas
Royal Caribbean Group
Corporate Headquarters — Miami
TF Federation Group LLC
Summit Organizer
— 03

Bogotá — Colombia

Maritime Authority
DIMAR — Dirección General Marítima
Invited Institutional Participant
— 04

Northern South America — M&O Zone

Regional Zone
Bureau Veritas — Marine & Offshore
Technical Ally

Hub locations reflect the offices or operational bases through which each confirmed participation or alliance was formalized. Display of names and emblems follows each entity’s respective authorization framework.

Allies

Technical & Institutional Allies

Aliado Técnico · Technical Ally

Bureau Veritas

Global classification society and certification body, supporting the Summit's technical dialogue on maritime standards in protected ecosystems.

Aliado Técnico Industrial · Industrial Technical Partner

Georg Fischer — GF Piping Systems, Marine Americas

Global leader in piping systems and flow solutions for marine and industrial applications, contributing engineering expertise on fluid-handling infrastructure in sensitive maritime environments.

This section reflects only alliances with explicit authorization for public disclosure. The scope, terms and conditions of each alliance remain confidential between the parties. Additional technical allies will be published progressively as their respective authorization processes are completed; information beyond what is shown here is provided internally and solely under the organizer’s express authorization. / Esta sección refleja únicamente las alianzas con autorización expresa para su divulgación pública. El alcance, los términos y las condiciones de cada alianza son confidenciales entre las partes. Nuevos aliados técnicos se publicarán de forma progresiva conforme se completen sus respectivos procesos de autorización; información adicional a la aquí mostrada se entrega de forma interna y únicamente bajo autorización expresa del organizador.

Preliminary Program

Three days of strategic
dialogue

A precisely structured itinerary balancing closed technical sessions, networking in maritime environments, and territorial immersion in the archipelago.

01
Day One 17 Nov

Strategic Opening

— DAY Arrival of participants
16:00 Welcome reception & strategic networkingCharles Darwin Research Station
18:30 Networking cocktailMaritime setting — in coordination
20:30 Official Opening DinnerRoyal Palm Galápagos · Curio Collection by Hilton · Lava Lounge
02
Day Two 18 Nov

Summit Sessions

09:00 Official OpeningWelcome and framing of the Summit agenda
09:30 Classification Standards for Operations in Protected Marine Territories
10:30 Incident Prevention & Environmental Response in Sensitive Ecosystems
14:00 Regulatory Convergence: International Maritime Standards Dialogue
17:00 Drafting Session: Galápagos Maritime Framework — Preliminary, non-binding
19:00 Networking dinnerMaritime setting — in coordination
03
Day Three 19 Nov

Immersion & Closure

— AM Territorial immersionLas Grietas · Los Gemelos · Santa Cruz
— PM Consolidation of agreements & final session
CLOSE Presentation of the Preliminary Framework — Galápagos Maritime Framework
The Venues

Three settings,
singular environments.

Charles Darwin Research Station — Inspiration Complex main hall, with presentation stage and ocean views
Charles Darwin Research Station — Inspiration Complex, configured for technical sessions
— The Inspiration Complex Estación Científica Charles Darwin · Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz
Aerial view of the Inspiration Complex, Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora Aerial View — The Inspiration Complex
Charles Darwin Research Station — Inspiration Complex, ocean-facing auditorium Auditorium
Charles Darwin Research Station — Inspiration Complex, timber ceiling detail Interior Detail
Charles Darwin Foundation emblem plaque, Inspiration Complex CDF Emblem
Marine iguanas on the shoreline adjacent to the Charles Darwin Research Station Santa Cruz Shoreline
— 01 —
Main Venue

Charles Darwin Research Station

The Inspiration Complex of the world's most iconic conservation institution — host to the main technical sessions and opening reception.

Capacity 70 pax
Location Puerto Ayora
Days I, II
— 02 —
Official Dinner

Royal Palm Galápagos

Curio Collection by Hilton. A five-course tasting dinner with wine pairing in the exclusive Lava Lounge, followed by a private tour of the volcanic lava tunnel.

Setting Lava Lounge
Cuisine 5 Courses
Day I — 20:30
— 03 —
Networking Experience

Maritime Experience

Networking sessions in a maritime environment within the waters of the Galápagos archipelago — in coordination with international maritime sector actors.

Setting Maritime
Format In Coordination
Days I, II
Official Hotel & Opening Dinner

An evening within
a volcanic lava tunnel.

As an official hotel of the Summit, Royal Palm Galápagos welcomes participants with preferential rates — and sets the stage for the opening evening: a five-course tasting dinner inside the Lava Lounge, a millennia-old volcanic tunnel beneath the Galápagos highlands.

Official HotelOpening Dinner Venue

Preferential rates available for Summit participants.

Lava Lounge dinner setting with candlelit tables
The volcanic lava tunnel illuminated
Lava Lounge dining venue
Five-course tasting cuisine
Natural entrance to the lava tunnel

Royal Palm Galápagos · Curio Collection by Hilton

“

The Galápagos Maritime Framework is developed as a preliminary, non-binding reference document — drafted with participants during the Summit, intended to inform future cooperation on maritime operations in fragile ecosystems.

— I —
Operational Safety
— II —
Sustainable Operations
— III —
International Cooperation
The Social Legacy

A lasting legacy for
island health.

Beyond the dialogue, the Summit leaves a tangible mark — strengthening healthcare across the Galápagos Islands for the communities who live where the ocean meets the land.

— 01
Telemedicine
Portable diagnostics and remote care reaching Isabela and rural communities across the archipelago.
— 02
Maritime Care
Strengthened hyperbaric capacity for the divers and fishermen whose lives depend on the sea.
— 03
Specialized Brigades
Ophthalmology, cardiology, and nutrition missions bringing specialist care to the islands.

A fully transparent model — medical equipment delivered directly to local health centers, with notarized records and zero intermediaries.

Dates 17 — 19 November 2026Three consecutive days
Location Puerto Ayora, Santa CruzGalápagos Islands, Ecuador
Format Closed · By invitation15–20 senior decision-makers
Registration No feeParticipation is institutional, not commercial
Travel Self-fundedNot covered by the Summit — travel insurance recommended
PNG Fees USD 200 entry · USD 20 TCTStandard Galápagos National Park fees
Confidentiality & Communications

Closed room.
Public participation.

Sessions are held without press access and without live coverage. The content of discussions, individual positions and their attribution remain confidential among participants.

What is made public is the fact of institutional participation — the list of participating organizations, dates and venues — together with a post-Summit communiqué. The Galápagos Maritime Framework is the only substantive public deliverable.

No media accreditation is issued for the sessions. Any communication or material displaying an institution's brand is coordinated with that organization prior to publication.

IN THE ROOM
No press. No live coverage. No public sessions. Discussions and individual positions are not attributed outside the room.
MADE PUBLIC
Participating organizations, dates and venues. A post-Summit communiqué. The Preliminary Framework.
SECRETARIAT
Summit Secretariat
info@tf-ims.com
— Engagement —

Become part
of the conversation.

Participation is by invitation only. Invitation requests and technical partnership inquiries are reviewed individually and confidentially by the Summit Secretariat.

Request an Invitation → Technical Partnership →
Organized by
TF Federation Group LLC
Miami, Florida · United States

LIVE UPDATES · ACTUALIZACIONES EN TIEMPO REAL

This page is updated as the Summit program consolidates. Participants, sessions and venues are confirmed progressively and reflected here as each stage is finalized. / Esta página se actualiza conforme el programa del Summit se consolida. Participantes, sesiones y sedes se confirman de forma progresiva y se reflejan aquí a medida que cada etapa queda definida.

@galapagosmaritimesummit @tf.federation