IALA

Since August 22, 2024 IALA officially changed its status from a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) to an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) based on a Convention ratified or acceded to by 34 States to date.

The new organization is named The International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation.

The new status represents a significant victory for multilateralism and ocean governance, marking an important step toward enhancing worldwide safety of navigation, efficiency and protection of the marine environment.

IALA encourages its members to work together in a common effort to harmonise aids to navigation worldwide and to ensure that the movement of vessels is safe, expeditious and cost-effective while protecting the environment.

Developing common standards of best practice

Taking into account the needs of mariners, developments in technology and the requirements and constraints of navigational authorities, a number of technical committees have been established, bringing together experts from around the world.

The work of the committees is aimed at developing common standards of best practice through the publication of IALA Recommendations and Guidelines.

This work ensures that mariners have navigational aids that meet their needs now and in the future. In this way, IALA contributes to reducing the number of maritime accidents, increasing the safety of life and property at sea and protecting the marine environment. 

Rijkswaterstaat actively participates in various working groups in order to generate knowledge that directly feeds into the preparation of IMO regulations.

Achievements

In 1929 the first International Lighthouse Conference was held in the United Kingdom. This was the first of 5 conferences held before IALA was formally established as an association of lighthouse authorities.

The purpose of these conferences was to exchange views on technical developments in marine aids to navigation. When IALA was established in 1957, its first constitution defined its purpose, which was to 'Assemble the Lighthouse Authorities of all countries for the discussion of general technical interests; circulate information regarding Lighthouse Authorities work in the various countries so that improvements introduced in any one of them may be available to the others; encourage, support and make known researches and inventions which are useful to Lighthouse Authorities.'

IALA has now done this for almost 100 years, and therefore, connecting and sharing knowledge between marine aids to navigation stakeholders, must be regarded as one of the primary achievements of IALA.

Since its establishment, IALA has developed several important concepts and systems, such as:

• The IALA Maritime Buoyage System (IALA MBS)
• Differential GPS System (DGPS)
• Automatic Identification System (AIS)
• VHF Data Exchange System (VDES)
• Development of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)

Furthermore, IALA has published more than 250 Standards, recommendations and guidelines, providing guidance on marine aids to navigation services provision and vessel traffic service.