Check out our latest Academy News video covering a successful technical mission in Guinea-Bissau, featuring collaboration between IHO and IALA, with valuable support from IFAN.
Watch to see how we’re working together to strengthen maritime infrastructure and safety!
We are pleased to announce that Mr Vincent Denamur will be the new Dean of the World-Wide Academy starting 4 November 2024! We look forward to this new addition to the team! A warm welcome to Mr Denamur.
Solomon Islands
His Excellency Ambassador Moses KOUNI MOSE, Solomon Islands, expressed the privilege of Solomon Islands ratifying the Convention, engaging in the membership of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation. He also stressed that the country was made up of hundreds of small Islands surrounded by an immense ocean space, therefore emphasizing the importance to ensure the safety of international shipping for trade and to support domestic shipping, security and travel.
Ms. Agnes Gaote’e, Deputy Director, Solomon Islands Maritime Authority gave a short brief on Solomon Maritime Authority (SIMA) as a Governmental entity. She thanked IALA and the World-Wide Academy for their support and emphasized the importance of their participation to VTS56 and especially the Working Group 3 on Training, which was relevant to help SIMA reach some of their needs and objectives to comply with IALA Standards.
Japan
His Excellency Ambassador SHIMOKAWA Makita congratulated the Secretary-General for the achievement of the IGO. He reiterated the close ties of cooperation that exist between Japan and IALA, and the assurance of their continued support to the Organization. Amongst the topics discussed, we could find the transition period of the IGO, the challenge of AtoN harmonization, the development of unmanned ships and the future of physical AtoN.
The Gambia Maritime Authority is a member of IALA since 2022. They also attended the Diplomatic Conference in Kuala Lumpur 2020 and signed the Final Act. The Gambia delegation met with the Secretary-General to discuss the legal aspects, and the progress made in the ratification process. It was expected that the process could be achieved before the General assembly in Singapore. The delegation was also attending the VTS56, the DTEC3 and the ARM19 Committee meetings.
On 22 August 2024, IALA becomes The International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation. View here the message from the Secretary-General.
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, August 2024 – After more than ten years of work and four diplomatic conferences, The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) is proud to announce that, effective August 22, 2024, we will officially change our status from a non-governmental organization (NGO) to an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO). Based on a Convention ratified or acceded to by 34 States to date, the new status represents 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. All major decisions will be made by representatives of their governments, who hold credentials from their Head of State, Prime Minister or Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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. The organization’s focus on harmonization has never been more crucial, especially to achieve an ambitious digital agenda for the maritime sector.
Key benefits of the status change:
Quotes from leadership:
Francis Zachariae, Secretary-General of IALA: “The transition to an Intergovernmental Organization marks a new chapter in IALA’s history. This change will enable us to work even more closely with our members and partners to ensure safe, harmonized and more efficient marine navigation worldwide. I also want to emphasize that in times of conflict and war, the creation of an international organization like IALA, which brings together people from around the world in a spirit of cooperation and compromise, underscores the importance of understanding and mutual respect.”
Eric Banel, director-general for maritime affairs, fisheries and aquaculture (ministry for the sea), France: “France will now host a new Intergovernmental Organization on its territory. The new IALA will be the third global maritime organization (and the only one in France), alongside the International Maritime Organization and the International Hydrographic Organization. It is undoubtedly a great source of pride for my country as the creation of this new maritime organization represents a significant step for multilateralism and ocean governance.”
About IALA:
Founded in 1957, IALA brings together Marine Aids to Navigation authorities, manufacturers, consultants, and scientific and training organizations from around the world. Its mission is to harmonize Marine Aids to Navigation worldwide and ensure that the movement of vessels is safe expeditious and cost-effective while protecting the marine environment.
Media contact:
Audrey Guinault
Communication Officer
IALA Headquarters
Email: audrey.guinault@iala-aism.org
Phone: +33 (0)1 34 51 70 01
For more information, please visit www.iala-aism.org
Note to editors:
High-resolution images and additional background information on IALA’s transition to an IGO are available upon request. Interviews with key IALA officials can be arranged through the media contact above.
Secretary-General Francis Zachariae, IALA
Director General Eric Banel, France
The 80th session of the Council meeting was held from 24 to 28 June 2024 in the Sheraton Atakoy Hotel, Istanbul, Türkiye and by video conference.
The president opened the meeting by thanking Türkiye for their wonderful hospitality. The Council was honoured by the intervention of Mr. Durmuş Ünüvar, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye who gave a presentation for the opening. After the Secretary-General’s report and National Matters, the councillors were given a detailed overview of the transition period ahead. As the Convention would enter into force on 22 August 2024, the responsibilities of the future Transition Council were laid out so that councillors could prepare for the upcoming tasks. As part of the transition preparations, the Council approved the resolution as contained in paper C80-8.2.2.2 with a proposed change and suggested to convene the first meeting of the Transition Council online on 22 August 2024 and the second meeting at the IALA HQ on 18-19 September 2024.
The Council noted the 2023 Audited Financial Statements, approved the proposed appropriation of the 2023 result and approved the reappointment of RSM France as Statutory Auditors.
The Council approved the revised budget for 2024.
The Council approved the membership contributions rates for 2025 as follows:
– National members: €19,680
– Industrial members: €6,730
– Associate members: €3,250
The Council decided to appoint Thomas Arculus from Trinity House, UK as Vice Chair of the LAP.
The Council approved the revised Committee work programme for 2023-2027.
The Council approved the following documents:
Revised R1019 on provision of Maritime Services in the context of e-Navigation in the domain of IALA, Ed2.0.
New G1182 on Cyber Security specifics from an IALA perspective, Ed1.0.
Revised G1141 Operational Procedures for Delivering VTS, Ed3.0.
Revised G1177 Portrayal of VTS information, Ed2.0.
Revised Model Course C0103-4 VTS On-the-Job Training Instructor, Ed3.0.
New G1183 on Provision of MCP identities, Ed1.0.
Revised R1007 The VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) for Shore Infrastructure, Ed2.0.
Revised G1128 Specification of e-Navigation Technical Services, Ed1.5.
The Council approved the proposed protocol for Product Specifications and Technical Service versioning and approval and the proposal of a Workshop on Future Radionavigation and Radiocommunication systems.
The Council decided to appoint Ms Catherine Mulvihill as a new board member of the IALA World-Wide Academy.
The Council noted the report on the WWA Board and agreed that the seconded officer in Singapore could be referred to as the IALA World-Wide Academy office in Singapore, for the duration of the MoU.
The Council noted the update on the IALA Disaster Recovery Fund and Councillors agreed to consider ways of facilitating sponsorships for the urgent needs of the SHSU.
The Council approved the following liaison notes:
S-100 operational interaction diagram to IHO NIPWG.
Technical Service Specification to IHO NIPWG.
Update of RTCM 10402.3 Standard to RTCM.
Proposed change to IEC 63173-1 to IEC TC80 WG17.
Request to use elements of IEC 63173-2 in IALA document to IEC.
IALA Task for Marine AtoN over IMT-2030 to IMO ITU EG.
Update of IALA Task for Marine AtoN over IMT-2030 to 3GPP TSGs.
IALA Task for Marine AtoN over IMT-2030 to ITU-R SG5.
The Council approved National membership for:
The Council approved Industrial membership for:
The Council approved Associate membership for:
The Council approved Honorary membership for:
The Council noted the resignations from:
The Council noted the following changes:
The Council decided to suspend industrial membership for:
The Council decided to suspend Associate membership for:
The Council noted the update on suspended membership from:
The full report is available at https://www.iala.int/meetings/80/ .
We are recruiting a new Dean for the World-Wide Academy. If you would like more details on the job offer, please e-mail us. The deadline to receive applications is set at 1 September 2024.
The Convention will enter into force on 22 August 2024. The intergovernmental Organization will be created and the transition period will begin.
The first 30 States to ratify, accept, approve, or accede to the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation are Singapore, Norway, Japan, Malaysia, India, Panama, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, France, Denmark, Finland, Cuba, Slovenia, Ireland, Sweden, Albania, Tunisia, Mexico, Oman, Germany, China, Portugal, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt.
A special page dedicated to the change of status is available here.
IALA HQ had the pleasure to host 2 important visits in February. On 20 February 2024 we received Trinity House’s former (Ian McNaught) and new (Iain Lower) Deputy Master for the handover and discussion of the future of both entities. Then on 22 February 2024 we received IFAN’s new CEO Catherine Mulvihill, and Development Manager Francesca Pradelli, to discuss the strengthening of the cooperation between the WWA and IFAN.
The 79th session of the IALA Council meeting was successfully held from 11 to 14 December at the Headquarters in France and by video conference.
More details were given about the transition period between the entry into force of the Convention and until IALA is constituted as an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO). Key decisions for the current and transition Council were detailed, including the development of new General Regulations and Financial Regulations and new Staff Rules.
The budget for 2024 was approved.
The Council approved of the following documents:
Guideline G1180, Ed1.0 Resilient Position, Navigation, and Timing.
Revised Model Course C0103-2 Ed3.0 for VTS Supervisor training.
Guideline G1181, Ed1.0 VDES VHF Data Link (VDL) Integrity monitoring.
The Council gave approval to the election of the selection of Faro di Genova ‘Lanterna’, Italy as the Heritage Lighthouse of the year 2024. The World Marine Aids to Navigation Day 2024 main event will be organized in Italy.
The Council endorsed new members as follows:
National membership for:
Industrial membership for:
Associate membership for:
The Council granted honorary membership to Phil Day (Northern Lighthouse Board), Simon Millyard (Trinity House) and Neil Trainor (Australian Maritime Safety Administration). The full report is available at https://www.iala.int/meetings/79/ .
