Current Context : On 11 June 2025, India, serving as Vice President of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), participated in the 2nd Session of the IALA Council in Nice, France.

ABOUT IALA

• Established: 1957 as an NGO; upgraded to an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) in 2024.
• Membership & Role: Brings together aids-to-navigation authorities, manufacturers, and training institutes to standardize marine navigation aids globally.
• Key Discussions in Nice:
  • Harmonization of marine aids to navigation.
  • Conservation of lighthouse heritage.
  • Development of IoT protocols for visual Aids to Navigation (AtoN).
  • Specifications for a global Maritime Service Registry.