Iala News

Chee Hong Tat, Singapore’s Acting Minister for Transport, announced a record year in 2023 at a Singapore Maritime Foundation New Year Conversations event.The annual vessel arrival tonnage in the Port of Singapore crossed three billion gross tonnage (GT) for the first time, increasing by 9.4% over 2022 and setting a high of 3.09 billion GT in 2023. This reflects growth in all segments, including container ships, dry bulk carriers, liquid bulk and chemical tankers, ferries and specialised vessels…

On July 1 the Port of Tyne launched a 'next-generation' Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system to enhance VTS operator situational awareness and supports decision making.The system adheres to the standards set by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), covers the waters of the Port of Tyne in the UK, extending from six nautical miles out at sea to three nautical miles inland. It uses the Automatic Identification System (AIS)…

The newly elected President of The Nautical Institute, Jillian Carson-Jackson has vowed to help the Institute and wider maritime community meet three important challenges – those of diversity and inclusion, branch engagement and managing the impact of technology.Speaking at today’s Nautical Institute Annual General Meeting she announced a pledge from the Institute on diversity and inclusion saying: “There has been a concerted effort over the past years to raise visibility of not just women, but the overall role of diversity and inclusion in maritime.

Wärtsilä said it will install its Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) solution at Peru's main harbor, one of Latin America’s most important ports.Dense fog and haze are a consistent challenge for Callao’s port operations, often making shipping conditions dangerous. Wärtsilä said its VTS solution will provide the technology needed to ensure uninterrupted port operations, while increasing safety levels and facilitating arrival, docking and departures for visiting ships.The technologies to be deployed by Wärtsilä includes solid-state IALA Advanced radar…

The technology group Wärtsilä will supply its Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) solution to two of France’s leading ports, Calais and Boulogne. The Wärtsilä VTS will effectively manage vessel traffic in these busy harbors to deliver greater operational efficiency and safety. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in October 2019 by Région Hauts-de-France, the government entity responsible for this tender.The system optimizes planning and traffic monitoring to reduce waiting time for vessels and allow just-in-time pilotage.

The implementation of e-navigation - the user-friendly collection, harmonization and display of essential maritime information - will contribute to enhanced maritime safety and security and support efficient shipping while protecting the marine environment, says International Maritime Organization (IMO).Various e-navigation solutions are being developed, taking into account IMO guidance and regulations.The SMART-Navigation Project, organized and funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea, was presented during an IMO regional workshop on e-navigation for the Asia-Pacific region, held in Busan, Republic of Korea…

The number of major incidents in the Port of Singapore has dropped over the last 10 years, with fewer than 0.12 major incidents per 100,000 vessel movements in 2018, down from 0.8 in 2009.Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health, said, “I thank the maritime community for the good work in improving maritime safety. The use of technology and digitization can further enhance maritime safety by providing seafarers better access to critical safety-related information and early warning of potential incidents.”Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will embark on a “Digital OCEANS” strategy to encourage Open or Common Exchange And Network Standardization. This strategy aims to allow digital platforms of port authorities e.g.

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) announced that the international Marine Aids to Navigation Day (WAtoN Day) will be held around the world for the first time.DMA marks the WAtoN Day at Nakkehoved Lighthouse in collaboration with Museum Nordsjælland on July 1, 2019.The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) will together with many national marine administrations including Denmark celebrate the WAtoN Day under the theme "Successful Voyages, Sustainable Planet", and by that draw attention to the work on the development of Aids to Navigation and, not least, to tell about the importance of why we use beacons, buoys etc.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is co-organizing a workshop with the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) to support the operationalization of e-navigation solutions, the first since Singapore’s election to the IALA Council in 2018.E-navigation, a concept driven by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and like-minded nations including Singapore, aims to make marine navigation safer and marine communications more reliable, as well as to reduce accidents and damage to the environment.Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive of MPA, said, “As one the world’s busiest hub ports with some 1…

Grupo Lindley was approached by Administração dos Portos do Douro, Leixões e Viana do Castelo in Portugal to improve the reliability of the aids to navigation in the Douro River. Along this stretch of navigable waters there are many piles that when the river floods become totally submerged.In conjunction with Instituto Hidrográfico (Portuguese Navy), Almarin together with sister company Lindley in Portugal has been working on a topmark that performs as a buoy floating off from the pile in high water.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim has highlighted the important link between safe ship navigation and sustainability. Speaking at the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Conference in Incheon, Republic of Korea (27 May),  Lim addressed the theme: 'Successful voyages, Sustainable planet – A New Era for Marine Aids to Navigation in a Connected World'. He emphasized that safe shipping is essential to the world – that by providing improved access to basic materials, goods and products, by facilitating commerce and by helping create prosperity among nations and peoples, shipping is helping lift millions of people out of poverty.

With the re-election to IALA Council, the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) remains at the center of international cooperation on issues of safe navigation, autonomous ships and the use of new technology. For the first time ever, the IALA Council election was contested, and Denmark – represented by the DMA - is among the elected countries. Andreas Nordseth, Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority said: “I am pleased that we once again got a place in IALAs’ Council. IALA is in the middle of a really interesting development from NGO to IGO – an international intergovernmental organization. The increasing focus on digitalization has, amongst other things, meant that IALA and the Danish Maritime Authority worked together on the now concluded EU-funded project EfficienSea2.

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) is hosting the final conference of the EU-funded digitalisation project EfficienSea2 on the 5th and 6th of April. 32 partners from 12 different countries have been collaborating in the European project EfficienSea2 since 2015 to create a more digital maritime world. The project has focused on developing new communication platforms, international IT-standards and digital services for the maritime world. The project supports the effort recently initiated by the Danish Government through a plan for maritime growth and a digital strategy. At the project’s final conference in Copenhagen on 5-6 April the solutions and communication platforms will be presented and demonstrated.

Almarin navigation buoys are being installed in a growing number of markets both in Europe and further afield, proving the effectiveness of their simple reliable design with the use of high quality materials manufactured in Europe. In the Léman lake, border between France and Switzerland, buoys have been installed to mark a floating containment boom in the estuary of Rhone river, nearby Port Valais. The Balizamar buoys used in this case were adapted by the customer for this application.

Co-hosted by The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) and IALA, the conference ’e-Navigation Underway’ was held for the 8th time. 150 participants from 5 continents joined the hosts on a conference cruise departing from Denmark earlier this week. ​The debate at the conference was lively with a strong focus on applying digitalization to real world uses. President and CEO at DFDS, Niels Smedegaard, said during his speech at the conference: “We have to speed up on understanding and applying the new possibilities that new technology provides. The development is too rapid for the human mind to keep up. Some of the specific discussions on digitalization centered on topics such as digital port reporting, cyber security, and how Coastal States can apply new tech to become better at their job.

International cooperation on standardisation and maritime digitalisation are this year’s themes as the Danish Maritime Authority and IALA are hosting the conference ’e-Navigation Underway’ for the eighth time. The conference takes place on board the M/S PEARL SEAWAYS, which will be heading for Oslo on a return voyage from 24 to 26 January. Director General Andreas Nordseth from the Danish Maritime Authority will open the conference together with the Secretary-General of IALA, and this year’s keynote speaker is DFDS President and CEO Niels Smedegaard. Furthermore, various players, including IMO Technical Officer Sasha Pristom, will present ongoing international work within e-navigation and digitalisation.

A particularly sensitive sea area (PSSA) is an area of special ecological, socio-economic or scientific importance which may be vulnerable to international shipping. To date, International Maritime Organization (IMO) has designated 17 areas which benefit from the scheme and are protected. IMO Member Governments can submit applications for the designation of PSSAs at any time. Representatives from IMO, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Marine Program and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) met with national stakeholders in Nouakchott, Mauritania (6-8 November) to discuss options to possibly designate the area around the Banc d'Arguin National Park as a PSSA.

The Indian Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) to change its status from Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to Inter-Governmental Organization (IGO). The move will facilitate “to foster the safe, economic and efficient movement of vessels". It will bring IALA at par with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO). The IALA, having headquarters at St. Germainen Laye (France) was established in 1957 under French law. It is governed by a General Assembly having 83 National members, with its Council as the executive body.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) is participating in the annual gathering of Asia Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) in Langkawi, Malaysia (20-24 March). Participants from 24 IMO Member States as well as observers from IALA, IHO and SPC are taking part in discussions surrounding APHoMSA's work to promote safe, secure shipping and a clean marine environment within the Asia-Pacific region. The event coincides with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2017 week, which brings together senior maritime officials from Pacific Ocean Rim countries and territories to exchange ideas and identify areas of cooperation.

The Indian Cabinet has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for greater cooperation with regard to marine aids to navigation that includes advice on lighthouses and beacons besides vessel traffic service. "The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) between the Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (DGLL), Ministry of Shipping, Government of India and the Department of Shipping, Government of Bangladesh," the Ministry of Shipping said in a statement. The MoU envisages cooperation including extending advice on lighthouses and beacons…

For the seventh time, the Danish Maritime Authority is organizing a conference that brings together the maritime world to focus on e-Navigation. The latest trends and the possibilities of implementing e-Navigation are this year's themes as the Danish Maritime Authority co-hosts the conference ‘e-Navigation Underway’ in cooperation with IALA. The conference will take place aboard the ship M/S Pearl Seaways, which will make a return passage to Oslo from January 31 to February 2. Now, the conference is open for registration. In the course of two days, different stakeholders will cover everything from presentations on cyber security to demonstrations of technological solutions from across the world.

India's Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (DGLL) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) on 11thAugust, 2016 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With the signing of this MoA, the DGLL Training Centre at Kolkata will be in position to deliver a professional training course on the management of marine aids to navigation in line with IALA model course itself. Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (DGLL) is primarily responsible for providing “Aids to Navigation service” for safety of mariners in the Indian waters. Apart from upgrading the skills and capacity of AtoN (Aids to Navigation) personnel in the country…

San Jacinto College and the Seamen’s Church Institute will host e-Navigation Underway (North America) 2016, the third in the annual North American series of conferences focusing upon the development and application of e-navigation. The event will be held at the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center, La Porte, Texas, a new facility that opened in Spring of this year. e-Navigation is an initiative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the goal of which is to provide a decision support environment for the maritime community.