About The Organization

ARM (Aids to Navigation Requirements and Management)

Committee Chair: Dave Lewald (US Coast Guard), Vice Chair: Natasha McMahon (Canadian Coast Guard)

The Committee work is organised according to five IALA Standards, as follows.

Standard 1010 Aton Planning and Service requirements 

Work domains:

  • Obligations and Regulatory Compliance
  • Risk Managment
  • Quality Management
  • AtoN Planning
  • Virtual Marking

Standard 1020 Aton Design and Delivery 

Work domains:

  • Visual Signalling
  • Design Implementation and maintenance

Standard 1050 Training and Certification

Work domains:

  • Training and certification
  • Capacity building

Standard 1060 Digital Communication Technologies

Work domains:

  • Wide/Medium bandwidth systems (AIS& VDES)
  • Capacity Building

Standard 1070 Information Services 

Work domains:

  • Data models and date encoding
  • Data exchange systems ( traffic Information)
  • Terminology, symbology and portrayal 

Committee Structure

The AtoN Requirements and Management Committee (ARM) is structured into three Working Groups to deliver the 2023 – 2027 work plan. They are:

  • WG1 – Navigational Requirements
  • WG2 – Information Services and Portrayal
  • WG3 – Risk management;

ARM WORKING GROUPS TERMS OF REFERENCE

1.  Introduction

Clause 1.3 in the Policy and Procedures section of the IALA Basic Documents states that a Committee should carry out its work in accordance with the following Terms of Reference.

  1. The purpose of a Committee is to create draft Documents, for example draft standards, recommendations, guidelines, and manuals.
  2. These documents should be directed to meeting the Goals of the Strategic Vision, with effort concentrated on documents required by the content of the Priorities for the period in the Strategic Vision.
  3. The Committee should work to a Work Programme which has been agreed by the PAP (Policy Advisory Panel), and this Work Programme should clearly show the deliverables as the draft documents indicated in (1) and (2) above.
  4. The Committee’s progress with its work and achievement of its deliverables should be reported to PAP and Council at regular intervals.

The following sets out the particular terms of reference for the ARM Committee for the work period 2023 – 2027.

2.  Terms of Reference for the ARM Navigational Requirments Working Group (WG1)

Introduction

Establishing and setting the user requirement is an essential part of any service provision. Setting the navigation requirement for marine AtoN with a strong bias toward understanding the needs of the mariner is fundamental to IALA’s success and delivery of standardisation and harmonization.

Scope

The review, update and development of IALA documents and knowledge transfer that supports the ARM Committee Work Programme 2023 – 2027 and IALA strategy. The support of technical workshops.

Topics and activities

  • Regulatory and legal framework for Aton Authorities
  • IMO Audit preparation
  • Quality Management for AtoN service delivery
  • Review of the IALA Maritime Buoyage System and associated guidance
  • Mobile AtoN and AMRD development
  • Guidance for the Navigator on the use of AtoN
  • ENavigation berth to berth requirments for Aton Authorities
  • AtoN in Polar regions
  • Provision of AtoN for Maritime Autonomous  Surface Vessels( MASS)
  • Marking of Man Made off shore Structure
  • Future use of DGNSS
  • Virtual AtoN
  • Rhythmic characters and synchronisation of lights
  • Symbology and portrayal of AtoN
  • IALA Navguide committee content review coordination.

Deliverables

  • Appropriate draft Standards, Recommendations, Guidelines, Model Courses and Manuals, etc., to fulfil the tasks assigned to the Working Group in the Committee Work Programme;
  • Information and relevant subtasks requested from other Working Groups within the Committee for them to fulfil their tasks;
  • Draft liaison notes etc. as appropriate;
  • Support for the technical workshops.

3.  Terms of Reference for the ARM Information Services and Portrayal Working Group (WG2)

Introduction

This working group incorporates work streams relating to the S-201 Product Specification, Maritime Resource Names and Maritime Services in the Context of e-Navigation and links them to the essential portrayal aspects. Working closely with IHO and IMO the group is fully developing and delivering the essential AtoN components necessary for the next generation of ECDIS, shore systems, and other services.

Scope

The review, update and development of IALA documents and knowledge transfer that supports the ARM Committee Work Programme 2023 – 2027 and IALA strategy. The group also supports technical workshops.

Topics and activities

Develop and maintain guidance on topics and activities related to:

  • Digitalization and Digital Platforms
  • Technical Service Specifications
  • Data models and data encoding (e.g. S-100, S-200, ASM)
  • Training and Assessment
  • Harmonized Maritime Connectivity
  • Accreditation, competency, certification, and revalidation
  • Cyber security risk management guidance
  • Design, Implementation, and Maintenance
  • Symbology and Portrayal

Deliverables

  • The deliverables of WG2 are stated in the Task Plan.

5.  Terms of Reference for the ARM Risk Managment Working Group (WG3)

Introduction

The SOLAS convention requires contracting states to provide Aids to Navigation appropriate to the volume of traffic and degree of risk. Therefore risk evaluation is an essential component AtoN planning. IALA offers substantial guidance in this area and manages the development of both qualitative and quantative risk evaluation tools (SIRA, PAWSA,IWRAP) as well as providing training through the World Wide Academy

Scope

The review, update and development of IALA documents and knowledge transfer that supports the ARM Committee Work Programme 2023 – 2027 and IALA strategy. The support of technical workshops.

Topics and activities

  • Update guidance on risk management to reflect changes in the IALA risk toolbox
  • Review the management and organisation of IALA Net
  • Continue to develop tools for the storage and analysis of historical AIS data
  • Develop guidance on maritime data sharing for risk analysis
  • Review and update guidance on simulation use by AtoN authorities
  • Promulgate the IALA risk management tool box to IMO
  • Cooperate with the WWA to provide Risk Seminars.

Deliverables

  • Appropriate draft Standards, Recommendations, Guidelines, Model Courses, Manuals, Product Specifications, etc., to fulfil the tasks assigned to the Working Group in the Committee Work Programme;
  • Information and relevant subtasks requested from other Working Groups within the Committee for them to fulfil their tasks;
  • Draft liaison notes etc. as appropriate;
  • Support for Technical Workshops.