Message from the Secretary-General
I write in the aftermath of the highly successful World Marine Aids to Navigation Day when our community commemorated this important date in the calendar.
By this event we promote awareness of the importance of marine aids to navigation and IALA’s role in improving and harmonising standards worldwide for the efficiency of navigation and protection of the environment.
This year’s principal event was hosted in the UK at Trinity House in London and at its East Coast base, Harwich, between 30 June and 2 July. Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board together co-hosted these days on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT), the UK Government Department that now represents the UK at IALA.
The World-Wide Academy
Numerous missions and training sessions continue to be delivered widely and in recent months our Academy teams have spread the word in Honduras, Iraq, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Our Academy continues to foster safety of navigation by delivering risk assessment training. From 8 to 10 July the Academy team was in Cameroon introducing Simplified IALA Risk Assessment training in the port of Kribi.
On its completion a total of twenty-four certified professionals from Cameroon (the Ports of Kribi and Douala as well as those in the industry) and Gabon (the AtoN National Competent Authority) qualified.
We extend our gratitude to Port Autonome de Kribi for hosting the three days’ capacity building activity and the Cameroon’s Maritime Competent Authority to promote the risk assessment methodologies in maritime waterways among their ports.
Port of Kribi has experienced constant growth since 2018 when it became operational and is able to accommodate container ships up to 400 metres loa, among other classes.
It is clear that recognition of the Academy’s capabilities is growing now that we have achieved IGO status thereby enabling IALA to expand capacity building.
Recent events
The use of the IALA Risk Management Tools Training was held in Kolkata, India, from 14 to 18 July.
From 28 July to 1 August the Master of Marine Aids to Navigation Management Course was held in Valparaiso, Chile.
Workshop on IMT for Marine AtoN held from 1 to 5 September in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Forthcoming events
From 6-10 October the Workshop on Sustainability in AtoN provision will be held in association with Irish Lights in Dublin, Ireland.
Looking ahead to next year in association with the Northern Lighthouse Board we are hosting a Workshop on Future Radionavigation and Radiocommunication Systems, to be held in Edinburgh, UK, from 09 to 13 February 2026.
Technical Committees
Of course our Technical Committees are about to start meeting now we are in the second half of the year.
The first few, each to be held at HQ, are listed here:
VTS58 22 – 26 September
DTEC5 29 September – 3 October
ENG21 13 – 17 October
ARM21 20 – 24 October
LAP28 29 October
Heritage Lighthouse of the Year Award 2026
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Heritage Lighthouse of the Year Award.
This is an opportunity for Members to place their most precious lighthouses in the spotlight and have their service’s good work on conservation, public access and education recognised internationally.
By definition a Heritage Lighthouse is any lighthouse of cultural significance which goes beyond its current function and time. It does not have to be old.
Communications
Once again I encourage all our readers to keep in touch with IALA and its website here: https://www.iala.int/
You will be informed through the website of forthcoming meetings, new publications, our news and, of course, publication of the e-Bulletin which has proved to be of value in spreading the word.
The IALA e-Bulletin: contributions welcome
You may wish to contribute an article. If so Audrey Guinault will be pleased to hear from you at: agu@iala.int
All good wishes for your missions ahead, ashore or afloat. I expect we will meet again soon.
Francis Zachariae.
