• India actively participated in the second session of the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) Council, held in Nice, France. 

• India is currently the vice president of IALA. Brazil is the president.

• The IALA Council is the key decision-making body of the intergovernmental organisation responsible for marine aids to navigation.

• The Indian delegation was led by T.K. Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

• He extended a formal invitation to all member states to attend the third IALA General Assembly in December 2025 and the 21st IALA Conference in 2027, both to be held in Mumbai.

What is IALA?

• The International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) was established in 1957 as a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

• It was earlier named as International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).

• In August 2024, IALA changed its status from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to an intergovernmental organisation (IGO) based on a Convention ratified or acceded to by 30 States.

• The new organisation was named the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA).

• IALA gathered together marine aids to navigation authorities, manufacturers, consultants and scientific and training institutes from all parts of the world and offers them the opportunity to exchange and compare their experiences and achievements.

• Taking into account the needs of mariners, developments in technology and the requirements and constraints of aids to navigation authorities, a number of technical committees have been established bringing together experts from around the world.

• The work of the committees is aimed at developing common best practices through the publication of IALA standards, recommendations, guidelines and model courses.

• This work ensures that mariners have marine aids to navigation which will meet their needs both now and in the future. Thus IALA contributes to a reduction of marine accidents, increased safety of life and property at sea, as well as the protection of the marine environment.

• The Secretariat is based in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris.

• There are currently 39 members.

• IALA’s transition from an NGO to an intergovernmental organisation reflects its growing importance in shaping international standards and best practices for safe and efficient navigation.

• Its status as an intergovernmental organisation strengthens IALA’s mandate to harmonise global maritime navigation systems, promote maritime safety initiatives, and collaborate with its member states, international organisations, and industry stakeholders to address emerging challenges in maritime safety and environmental protection.

Achievements of IALA

• In 1929 the first International Lighthouse Conference was held in the United Kingdom. 

• This was the first of five conferences held before IALA was formally established as an association of lighthouse authorities. 

• The purpose of these conferences was to exchange views on technical developments in marine aids to navigation. 

• When IALA was established in 1957, its first constitution defined its purpose, which was to “Assemble the lighthouse authorities of all countries for the discussion of general technical interests; circulate information regarding lighthouse authorities work in the various countries so that improvements introduced in any one of them may be available to the others; encourage, support and make known researches and inventions which are useful to Lighthouse Authorities”. 

• IALA has now done this for almost 100 years, and therefore, connecting and sharing knowledge between marine aids to navigation stakeholders is regarded as one of the primary achievements of IALA.

Since its establishment, IALA has developed several important concepts and systems, such as:

i) The IALA Maritime Buoyage System (IALA MBS)

ii) Differential GPS System (DGPS)

iii) Automatic Identification System (AIS)

iv) VHF Data Exchange System (VDES)

v) Development of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)

• Furthermore, IALA has published more than 250 standards, recommendations and guidelines, providing guidance on marine aids to navigation services provision and vessel traffic service.

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