Message from the Secretary-General
I welcome you to this the second e-Bulletin of the year. Here you will see a selection of articles from our global membership and from our Secretariat covering a diverse range of material.
Annual Report
It gives me much pleasure to tell you that our Annual Report for the year 2025 is now available on the IALA website here: https://www.iala.int/content/uploads/2026/06/ANNUAL-REPORT-2025-Web.pdf
Through this Annual Report the organization is introduced with an overview and an outline of the membership. This is followed by how governance is undertaken with the various bodies within such as the General Assembly, the Council, the groups for Finance, Policy, Legal affairs and, of course, the technical committees. This was followed by a reminder of the year’s highlights and our finance.
I urge Members to circulate the Annual Report widely to your stakeholders and others as you are able in an effort to spread the word as to what IALA is and what it does in keeping the world’s oceans and waterways safe from hazards and the marine environment clean and pure.
Council
At the time of writing we have successfully convened the fourth meeting of the IALA Council (Council 04) where we were able to welcome some new members and to hear what councillors have achieved since we last met. At the same time issue of new technical publications was approved and we were brought up to date on plans for the 21st IALA Conference.
21st IALA Conference: call for abstracts
We have published the call for abstracts for the 21st IALA conference to be held from 8 to 12 November 2027 in Mumbai, India. https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/auth?redirect=/stages/80499/submitter
Conference theme
The theme for the conference is Marine Aids to Navigation for Successful Voyages and a Sustainable Planet.
Conference abstracts: Deadline for submission
Our invitation advises how abstracts should be submitted, the deadline for which is 31 August 2026. The list of proposed topics from which abstracts and ultimately papers will be chosen ranges from Information Services to Aids to Navigation Planning and Service Requirements by way of Training and Certification, Radionavigation Services and much more totalling thirty-five topics in all. A broad range indeed.
We look forward to a good response to make the conference in India a splendid example of international cooperation and as the months go by we will keep you up to date on progress.
Looking ahead
Third Latin America Regional Seminar on aids to navigation
The Secretaría de Marina, through the National Maritime Authority of Mexico, will host this event in Veracruz, Mexico, from 14 to 17 July. This four‑day regional event will bring together experts and authorities to examine current and emerging issues in marine aids to navigation, including national AtoN challenges, digital maritime services, S‑100/S‑200 product specifications, resilient PNT, and developments in AtoN and VTS digitalization. The programme also includes a technical visit in support of regional knowledge‑sharing and cooperation.
S-100/200 development
We look forward to hearing of progress with the third joint workshop on S-100/200 development and portrayal to be held in Istanbul from 1 to 4 September. This is being organized with the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in association with the Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety. https://events.iala.int/3rd-joint-iho-iala-workshop-on-s-100-200-development-and-portrayal-istanbul-turkiye/
GNSS and e-Navigation
Another event on the horizon to be held in Constanta, Romania, from 14 to 18 September will provide aids to navigation and VTS managers, port and terminal administrations, related industry and other safety of navigation stakeholders with a solid understanding of GNSS, resilient PNT, digitalisation of maritime services and the e-navigation concept. https://www.iala.int/product/l1-4-gnss-and-e-navigation/
WATON Day 2026
We shall celebrate World Marine Aids to Navigation Day around the world on 1 July and the main event for WATON Day 2026 will be held on 15 July in Busan, ROK https://www.iala.int/news-events/world-marine-aids-to-navigation-day/world-marine-aids-to-navigation-day-2026-2/ .
To conclude
Once again to conclude let us not forget our mantra Successful Voyages, Sustainable Planet which reflects our commitment to promoting maritime safety and environmental protection.
With all good wishes for your missions ahead, I expect we will meet again soon.
Francis Zachariae.
