An Aids to Navigation research project
Low-cost marine aids to navigation for developing nations SIDS and LDCs
This project is led by London’s Royal College of Art (RCA), in partnership with Hawkshill Consulting, IALA, and the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN), with funding provided by Lloyd’s Register Foundation and IFAN.
The Royal College of Art is leading the project to co-design sustainable, low-cost marine aids to navigation for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.
As we well know vessels at sea rely on aids to navigation that must conform to global standards set by IALA. While these industrially manufactured tools are essential for mitigating maritime risks, the cost, logistical challenges, resources and lack of local technical knowledge often creates a significant barrier for developing regions, leaving critical waterways underserved.
To co-design and develop low cost AtoNs
It is understood that the aim of the project is to co-design and develop low cost aids to navigation suitable for sustainable local construction and maintenance.
Engaging local communities
This will involve engaging with local communities to collaboratively design and build aids to navigation that leverage local expertise in materials and making through a co-design process to exchange knowledge between the project partners.
Extensive testing due
These prototypes will undergo extensive testing and validation to ensure they provide the same high-level reliability as current alternatives, even in the most challenging maritime climates. The project’s findings, it is reported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, will be documented in a joint publication, providing a roadmap for future implementation.
The ultimate goal is a significant reduction in maritime risk in SIDS and LDCs ensuring that the oceans remain a safe and productive space for all nations, regardless of their economic standing.
RCA driving innovation
In its capacity as a UNESCO Ocean Decade Implementing Partner, the RCA leverages its world leading expertise in co-design and participatory research to drive innovation and secure a resilient and sustainable future for our oceans. https://oceandecade.org/actions/co-design-of-aids-to-navigation-codaton/
Comment
In the words of Jan Przydatek, Director of Technologies at Lloyd’s Register Foundation: ‘Addressing safety gaps makes people safer, and this project will help address those gaps by developing and testing low-cost, co-designed marine aids to navigation.’
Catherine Mulvihill, Chief Executive Officer of the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN), commented: ‘We are proud to support this initiative, which reflects IFAN’s commitment to advancing sustainable development through safer navigation.
‘In many Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, reliable aids to navigation are essential not only for maritime safety, but also for trade, food security, connectivity, and economic opportunity. When navigation is safer, communities are freer to thrive.
‘By combining design innovation, technical expertise, and local knowledge, this project has the potential to deliver practical and sustainable solutions for vulnerable coastal communities.’
Text based on media material kindly made available by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
IALA e-Bulletin Rapporteur: Paul Ridgway.