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News

Press Release from MENAS launching accredited training courses

Bahrain-based Middle East Navigation Aids Service (MENAS) has underlined its commitment to boosting safe navigation in the Middle East Gulf by launching an Accredited Training Course (ATO) in partnership with the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). 

The ATO accreditation was awarded after a rigorous process undertaken by Trinity House (TH) under an existing agreement between IALA and TH for training audits.

The IALA Marine Aids to Navigation Training Courses have been designed to generate a common approach to Aids to Navigation (AtoN) training and achieve a high standard approach to its implementation. The courses are delivered according to the IALA World-Wide Academy (WWA) model course syllabus.

Government and semi-government departments within the Gulf Cooperation Council member states will be targeted for the courses, which will start once the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has eased off.

The initial delivery will be IALA Level 2 Marine Aids to Navigation Technician courses providing a framework for the training and education of personnel tasked with conducting the installation, servicing, maintenance or replacement of marine aids to navigation and their components.

Subsequently, MENAS will deliver the IALA Level 1 Marine Aids to Navigation Manager course, providing a framework for the training and education of professionals involved in the strategic and operational management of AtoN services. This course covers the fundamental principles of effective AtoN management, with a significant emphasis on the implementation of the IALA standards, to enable coastal states to have suitably qualified professionals to effectively discharge their obligations under the SOLAS Convention.

MENAS, which is a subsidiary of the London-based International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN), welcomed the move.

Mahdi Al Mosawi, General Manager for MENAS, stressed: “We’re delighted to have developed a course to help provide a universal approach to ensure thorough training and standards are maintained globally.”

Peter Stanley, CEO of IFAN, said: “The IALA Marine Aids to Navigation Training Courses will help to keep safety at the forefront. It’s taken a long time to come to fruition, but we’re thrilled that we’re now able to support training for safer seas.” 

14th Symposium – 12 to 16 April 2021

Enhanced Maritime Safety and Efficiency by Connectivity

The 14th IALA Symposium was a great success with interactive participation from 229 delegates from 20 countries and 13 sponsors online. Here is a list of the highlights from the discussions of the week. The network app is still open until 1st of July for everyone to enjoy the presentations and networking a little bit longer!

Digital@Sea Webinar – 14 April 2021 – 10:00 to 11:00 UTC

A webinar on the Digital@Sea Conference was organized on the 14 April 2021 from 10:00 to 11:00 UTC just prior day 3 of the IALA 14th Symposium.

Watch the webinar on Youtube !

  • Francis Zachariae, Secretary General, IALA – Digital@Sea Introduction and background
  • Andreas Nordseth, Director General, DMA – Digital@Sea Initiative and possible role for IALA
  • Sunbae Hong, Director of Korea MOF – Digital@Sea Cluster and capacity building
  • Ed Wendlandt RTCM(USCG) – ENUW (e-Navigation Underway) NA (North America) and plan for this year’s conference

 

Webinaire Points Cardinaux n°2 – Pleins feux sur les atouts de la gestion des risques – Mardi 23 mars 2021 à 1400 UTC

L’Académie Mondiale de l’AISM a  décidé d’organiser des vidéo-conférences, appelées Points cardinaux, ouvertes à l’ensemble des parties prenantes de la sécurité de la navigation (autorités nationales compétentes, autorités portuaires, …).

Pour le renforcement des capacités en Afrique, le webinaire Points Cardinaux n° 2 « Pleins feux sur les atouts de la gestion des risques – L’analyse de risques, outil de dialogue et de réduction des coûts » est programmé le mardi 23 mars 2021, en langue française, de 1400 à 1500 UTC. Voir le programme.

Pour vous connecter, merci de bien vouloir utiliser le lien suivant : cliquer ici

L’enregistrement sera disponible sur la chaine Youtube de l’AISM.

The World-Wide Academy is organizing a series of webinars entitled ‘Points Cardinaux’ open to all actors for the safety of navigation (Competent Authorities, Ports Authorities, …).

For Capacity Building in Africa, the webinar ‘Points Cardinaux n°2 Light on the benefits of Risk Management – Analysis of risks, tools and costs reduction’ is scheduled on Tuesday 23 March 2021, in French, from 1400 to 1500 UTC.

Singapore ratified the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation

On 9 March 2021, Singapore ratified the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation. It is the first country to do so shortly after it signed the Convention on 1 March 2021.

See Press Release here and more information on the Convention here.

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Sponsorship to the WWA in Dec 2018. Mrs Angela Png, Director (International) Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Mr Francis Zachariae, Secretary-General of IALA.

Webinar on Cordouan Lighthouse – 15 March 2021 – 0800 to 1600 UTC

Webinar on Cordouan Lighthouse

See programme here (in French) to join the event.
Cordouan was the fisrt IALA lighthouse of the year in 2019. It is running for a nomination for UNESCO world heritage.
This webinar is scheduled on 15 March 2021 from 0900 to 1700 CEST (0800-1600 UTC) with different sequences that could be followed separately.
Presentations will be made in French but will also be simustaneously translated in English on Zoom.

Voir le programme ici.

Le phare de Cordouan a été le premier à être élu phare de l’année en 2019. Il est en concours pour une nomination au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO.

Ce webinaire est prévu le 15 mars 2021 de 0900 à 1700 CET avec des séquences qui peuvent être suivies séparément. Les présentations seront en français avec traduction simultanée en anglais sur Zoom.

Opening for signature of the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation

Wednesday 27 January 2021 was a historic day for IALA as Ms Annick Girardin, Minister for Maritime Affairs of France, signed the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation. The Convention is now open for signatures and hopefully many other States signature will follow soon.

For more information, read the speech by the Secretary-General Francis Zachariae here.

e-Navigation Underway Asia-Pacific 8-9 September 2020

e-Navigation Underway Asia-Pacific is scheduled from 8 to 9 September 2020 and will be held virtually. This year the conference focuses on digital technologies in the maritime sector, including e-Navigation and autonomous ship, ultimately aiming at establishing the Digital@Sea Initiative.

The theme for this year is ‘Collaborating to harmonize maritime digitalization’ See the programme : https://www.e-navap.org/p2/c2/

More information and registration available on the website: https://www.e-navap.org/

Virtual Committee Working Arrangements

The committee meetings of the second half 2020 will be virtual. Please download here the document explaining what the working arrangements are.

PAP40

31 August, 2 – 3 September 2020 (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday)

VTS49

Input paper deadline – 24 August 2020

Opening Plenary – 21 September 2020

Closing Plenary – 15 October 2020

ARM12

Input paper deadline – 31 August 2020

Opening Plenary – 28 September 2020

Closing Plenary – 22 October 2020

ENAV26

Input paper deadline – 28 August 2020

Opening Plenary – 29 September 2020

Closing Plenary – 23 October 2020

ENG12

Input paper deadline – 2 September 2020

Opening Plenary – 30 September 2020

Closing Plenary – 16 October 2020

LAP21

13 –15 October 2020 (Tuesday to Thursday)

 

World Marine Aids to Navigation Day 2020

On the 1st of July 2020, IALA celebrated the World Marine Aids to Navigation Day virtually. Photos of Marine Aids to Navigation have been shared through social media to tell the world about how important Marine Aids to Navigation are for the global safety and efficiency of navigation and the protection of the environment. See our dedicated page!

This picture of “Ponta do Boi” Lighthouse in Brazil is taken by Mr. Luciano Candisani. It symbolized well the IALA motto and theme of the WATON DAY “Successful Voyages, Sustainable Planet”!

 

Council 71

The 71st session of the IALA council was held by video conference on the 3rd and 4th of June 2020. All councilors were present, despite the numerous time zones. The Council could proceed in a great spirit of cooperation and the testimonies of the important work that IALA’s members are continuously providing through the world was highly appreciated. Report available here for members.

And here is a highlight of some of the decisions taken at the meeting:

Virtual Committee meetings

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, IALA decided all the Committee meetings in the second half of the year would be held as virtual meetings.

It has been foreseen that a more extended period than one week of the ordinary Committee meeting would be needed considering the time differences around the globe and efficiency of the remote and virtual meetings. The secretariat believes that communication is vital, and the procedure and details will be conveyed to members via circular letters and information posted on the website.

Heritage lighthouse of the year

Since the Heritage Lighthouse of the Year was established in 2019, ENG 11 reviewed a high calibre of nominations submitted, emphasising the variety and cultural value of lighthouses around the world. In all, 16 nominations from 9 member countries were received for consideration in this, and in future years’ accolades. And, ENG shortlisted the following three nominations;

  • Santo Antônio da Barra Lighthouse, Brazil
  • Kõpu Lighthouse, Estonia
  • Mahabalipuram Lighthouse, India

Council 71 decided the Santo Antônio da Barra Lighthouse, Brazil as the IALA Heritage Lighthouse of the Year 2020.

Guidance document

Revocation of Guideline 1072

ARM reviewed the Guideline 1072 on AtoN Information Exchange and Presentation and considered if the contents of Guideline 1105 on Shore-side Portrayal Ensuring Harmonisation with e-Navigation related information may be incorporated.

The Committee concluded that both guidelines are point-in-time documents that have been overtaken by events. Therefore, the Committee recommends the revocation of Guideline 1072 and significant revisions to Guideline 1105, to be coordinated with the VTS Committee, and the proposal has been approved by Council 71.

Guideline G1143 – Unique Identifiers for Maritime Resources Ed.2.0

The draft document was an update of Guideline 1072 on the MRN. Since the first edition of the document, ARM revised the document reflecting the developments in the domain. The revision includes more examples of MRN, and MRN for publications, and the wildcard for use where it is unknown or impractical to assign any namespace identifiers.

Council 71 decided to send Guideline G1143 edition 2.0 back to the ARM Committee for further discussion.

New publications

VTS manual 2020

The VTS Committee updates and publishes the VTS manual every four years.  The VTS manual 2020 (Edition 7) became more clear and concise to assist better those who are in any way involved in the policies and management responsibilities.

The Council approved the VTS Manual. The Secretary-General expressed his warmest thanks to Neil Trainor of AMSA who devoted a lot of work to this new edition of the VTS Manual.

 

IALA publications catalogue

The secretariat keeps trying to enhance the accessibility and visibility of the technical guidance documents. This catalogue covers the technical guidance and contains an over-all view of the standards, recommendations, guidelines, and model courses in force with a summary. IALA hopes this document could be useful for the work of all the members.

IALA members continue to work to ensure the safety of navigation during lockdown around the world.

As the world continues to be locked down, provision of Aids to Navigation services are essential services vital for the safety of marine navigation and the continuous flow of food, fuel and medical supplies, along with the many other commodities upon which we all depend daily.

IALA national members, who provide Aids to Navigation services, as well as our industrial members, who produce and deliver Aids to Navigation equipment, follow the advice given by their governments and most of their personnel are now working from home where possible. However, some staff are required to attend their normal workplace due to the essential nature of their work when responding to outages and performing vital maintenance work and keeping their service operational.

One of our national members, the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) of India have produced this video reassuring the general public of their commitment to keeping their service fully operational and ensure safety of marine navigation along their coastline despite the lockdown.

Video: http://www.dgll.nic.in/WriteReadData/COVID.mp4