Message from the Secretary-General
Change of status
After more than ten years of effort and four diplomatic conferences we were able to announce on 22 August that we had arrived at the change of status from a non-governmental organization (NGO) to an intergovernmental organization (IGO).
This represented a significant victory for multilateralism and ocean governance, marking an important step toward enhancing worldwide safety of navigation, efficiency and protection of the marine environment.
The transition to an intergovernmental organization will place IALA in a much stronger position to develop and harmonize marine aids to navigation, as governments will be directly involved in our work.
For over six decades, IALA has played a pivotal role in providing standards, recommendations and guidelines for the implementation of significant developments within the maritime sector.
Without doubt the organization’s focus on harmonization has never been more crucial, especially as we aim to achieve the ambitious digital agenda for the maritime sector.
We now look forward to the first General Assembly under our new status. This is being planned under the gracious hosting of the Republic of Singapore and due to be held there from 18 to 21 February 2025.
Council 80
From 24 to 28 June we enjoyed fine Turkish hospitality for Council 80 held in Istanbul and hosted by the Directorate General of Coastal Safety (DGCS). A full and busy agenda was worked through and you can see the report on the website.
World Marine Aids to Navigation Day
Moving to Italy early the following month we celebrated World Marine Aids to Navigation Day over 2 – 3 July with a special commemoration held in Genoa, Italy, one of the busiest port cities in the Mediterranean, where the centre of attraction was the ‘Lantern’ dating from the twelfth century, definitely an ancient symbol of the port and now IALA Heritage Lighthouse of the Year 2024.
You will find in these pages an article on this important day in the IALA calendar and one celebrated the world over.
News and events
Readers are strongly advised to keep in touch through the IALA website. Here you will find a forecast of events and valuable news items of our activities.
Upcoming, the committee meetings will start with VTS56 week on 23 September at HQ and finish with ENG19 week on 21 October, taking place in Australia for this session. A workshop on AtoN Engineering, is also scheduled in Sydney, Australia on 14 October https://events.iala-aism.org/aton-engineering-workshop/ , back-to-back with the ENG committee.
WWA
The Academy is busy as always with Procurement courses in Suriname in October and Risk Course in Italy in November https://academy.iala.int/wwa/training/course-schedules/.
Once again I send thanks to all our correspondents in the world-wide family that is IALA and whose most welcome texts and illustrations enable a much sought after e-Bulletin. This, with the website and our publications, continues to provide the public face of IALA.
Francis Zachariae
