Message from the SG
I commence this edition with a tribute to Clive Davidson who died on 1 February. He will be remembered as CEO of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), representative of Australia at IALA, President and host at the 15th IALA Conference in Sydney in 2002.
Here at St Germain-en-Laye we continue with the mantra delivered at Rio: Marine Aids to Navigation – Innovation for a Sustainable Future.
With this in mind we have held a series of successful events over recent weeks and the Committee season has got underway.
Copenhagen
Digital@Sea International was held in Copenhagen at the end of January hosted by the Danish Maritime Authority with our cooperation. This event focused on learning from experts and creating a vision for future digitalization of the maritime sector. Excellent outcomes were received and will be translated to the IALA committees for their relevant actions.
IHO
Looking ahead there will be the 2nd IALA-IHO Workshop on S-100 and S-200 at Annapolis, from 9 to 15 September.
MASS
We conducted a well-supported MASS webinar of 7 February with the theme Sailing into the future of autonomous ships. This enabled us to consider the future of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and how we will be able to enhance the preparedness of our members. At the same time the webinar (recorded on the IALA You Tube channel) has contributed significantly to the conversation surrounding the integration of automated and autonomous technologies in the maritime domain.
Indonesia
Following our signing of an MoU with the Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST), Ministry of Transportation, Indonesia last November, the World-Wide Academy conducted a preliminary visit to the DGST HQ in mid-January.
This has been well accepted by both sides and now an action plan to further enhance education and training capacity of DGST through delivery of the IALA Aids to Navigation Manager model course in the local language, Bahasa, will evolve. Both parties will be able to share expertise and knowledge with Indonesia’s many navigational districts.
The IALA World-Wide Academy has now been in operation for twelve years and has proven to be a tremendous success.
Without doubt 2024 will be a very busy, challenging and successful year.
Transition
With a degree of optimism and 27 ratifications applied as at 1 March 2024 and only three more needed, we have started to plan the complicated transition period from IALA as an NGO to the new IGO and the successful transfer of the transition Secretariat is a priority.
World Marine Aids to Navigation Day
Do not forget World Marine Aids to Navigation Day on 1 July. Preparations are being made for a special commemoration to be held in Genoa on 2 to 3 July, one of the busiest port cities in the Mediterranean, where the centre of attraction will be the lighthouse, the first structure of which was constructed in the 12th century.
I know you will be equally as supportive of this commemoration in your own services and look forward to reading of your efforts. More information will follow shortly on the web site and social media.
Thanks
Finally, I send thanks to all our correspondents whose most welcome texts and illustrations enable a much sought after e-Bulletin which, with the website, provides the perfect shop window of IALA.
