The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India, successfully hosted the 3rd Council Meeting of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) in Mumbai from 08–12 December 2025.
The high-level meeting brought together over 60 international delegates from more than 30 countries, reflecting the growing global confidence in India’s leadership in the maritime sector.
The Council Meeting was virtually inaugurated by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on 09 December 2025, in the presence of Vijay Kumar, Secretary (PSW), and senior officials of the Ministry.
In his address, the minister stated, “India is emerging as a global maritime innovator under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hosting the IALA Council Meeting in Mumbai reflects India’s growing role in shaping international maritime standards, strengthening navigation safety, and advancing digital and sustainable solutions for the global maritime community.”
On the occasion, the Minister also launched the Digital Ticketing Portal for Lighthouse Tourism, a major initiative aimed at enhancing digital access, transparency, and visitor convenience across 75 lighthouse tourism destinations in the country.
Addressing the delegates, Vijay Kumar, Secretary (PSW), highlighted that with over 11,000 km of coastline, more than 200 ports, and nearly 20,000 km of navigable waterways, India’s maritime domain serves as a powerhouse of connectivity, trade, and employment. He noted that India, now the world’s fourth-largest economy, is witnessing a transformative phase in its maritime sector and emphasised the critical role of marine aids to navigation in supporting the nation’s Blue Economy aspirations.
Francis Zachariae, Secretary General of IALA, conveyed his appreciation to the Government of India for successfully hosting the Council Meeting and acknowledged India’s substantive contribution to global navigation safety and international maritime cooperation.
During the technical sessions of the Council Meeting, extensive work undertaken by the four IALA Committees, Aids to Navigation Requirements and Management (ARM), Engineering and Sustainability (ENG), Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), and Digital Technologies (DTEC) was presented and deliberated upon.
The deliberations resulted in the updating of existing IALA Standards and Guidelines, along with the formulation of new global standards aimed at enhancing and harmonising marine aids to navigation worldwide.
As part of the programme, the IALA Council visited the proposed venue for the IALA Conference and General Assembly 2027, which received formal approval from the Council.
A technical tour to the historic Kanhoji Angre Lighthouse, equipped with a First Order Fresnel optic and advanced marine navigation systems, was also organised. The visit highlighted India’s commitment to preserving maritime heritage while integrating state-of-the-art technology and was widely appreciated by the international delegates.
India continues to be an active Council Member of IALA, contributing to global standard-setting, capacity building, technical cooperation, and the advancement of safe navigation practices in close collaboration with international partners.
