South Africa has been re-elected to serve on the Council of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). The results were announced at the General Assembly held in conjunction with the 19th IALA Conference in Incheon, Republic of Korea from 28 May to 2 June.

Attending the IALA Conference on behalf of TNPA and the South African delegation were – left to right: Robin Poggenpoel (LNS Regional Manager West), David Gordon (LNS Executive Manager), Yolande Rasmeni (LNS Technical Services Manager) and Sivayogan Moodley (LNS Regional Manager East). Photo: Transnet NPA

South Africa, represented by the Lighthouse and Navigational Systems (LNS) business unit of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), has been an elected council member since 1994. TNPA LNS Executive Manager, David Gordon, also served as IALA President from 2010 to 2014.

Gordon said IALA is the only international body concerned with the provision of marine aids to navigation systems (AtoNs) sea and on inland waterways.

“IALA’s recommendations and standards are accepted and implemented across the globe, including adoption by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) as their standards under the National Ports Act 12 of 2005,” he said.

“It is a tremendous honour to once again take our place on the governing body of IALA, comprising 21 elected and three non-elected Councillors, to represent the interests of some 289 members from 80 countries,” he said. Following the first meeting of the newly elected council, Gordon was also elected to serve on the IALA Financial and Audit Committee (FAC) for the period 2018-2022. The FAC assists the IALA secretariat and council with the financial administration of IALA.

IALA membership is restricted to port authorities or companies that are legally responsible for the provision, maintenance and/or operation of marine aids to navigation within a country.

TNPA, through its LNS business unit, is mandated by the National Ports Act 12 of 2005 to provide, operate and maintain lighthouses and AtoNs along the 2 954 kilometre coastline of South Africa. LNS is also responsible for the provision and maintenance of all other systems relating to Maritime Navigation for TNPA ports.

The new list of 24 IALA councillors represent Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.