Each year the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) leads the celebrations for World Marine Aids to Navigation Day (WAtoN Day).
The aim of WAtoN Day is to promote awareness of the importance of marine aids to navigation and the role of IALA’s work to improve and harmonise standards worldwide for the efficiency of navigation and protection of the environment.
Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board will be co-hosting WAtoN Day 2025 on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT), the UK Government Department that represents the UK at IALA.
This is a particularly important year for IALA as it has just become an Inter-Governmental Organisation.
Physical aids to navigation in a digital future
An exciting programme of events starts on 30 June with a networking event for participants onboard one of the most modern vessels operating on the Thames.
On 1 July (World Marine Aids to Navigation Day) there will be two panel discussions where invited participants will be able to put questions to a panel of leading technology and maritime experts, and a dinner where the guest speaker will be Sturla Henriksen, Special Advisor, Ocean, to the United Nations Global Compact.
The theme for the day’s discussions will be the role of physical aids to navigation in a digital future.
Special guests on the day will include HRH The Princess Royal and Mike Kane MP, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security. HRH The Princess Royal is the Patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board, and the Master of Trinity House.
On the following day, participants will visit the east coast operational base of Trinity House in the port town of Harwich for a technical and operational tour that will showcase the importance of marine aids to navigation (such as lighthouses and buoys) and the work involved to support the safe transit through our waters for mariners of all kinds of vessel.
IALA’s Secretary-General, Francis Zachariae, is excited for the upcoming celebratory event:
“I would like to thank the UK Government’s Department for Transport, Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board for hosting World Marine Aids to Navigation Day 2025. This event provides an invaluable opportunity to come together, exchange ideas and strengthen our international ties.”
IALA
The International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation’ (IALA) mission is to harmonise marine aids to navigation worldwide and ensure that the movement of vessels is safe expeditious and cost-effective while protecting the marine environment. In August 2024 IALA changed its status to an intergovernmental organisation.
Department for Transport
The Department creates the strategic framework for transport services in the UK which are delivered through a wide range of public and private sector bodies including its own executive agencies, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and arms-length bodies which include Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board. It supports the transport network that helps the UK’s businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country efficiently and safely by planning and investing in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move.
Northern Lighthouse Board
The Northern Lighthouse Board has provided a vital safety service to mariners since 1786 and is the General Lighthouse Authority responsible for the superintendence and management of all lights, buoys and beacons within Scottish and Isle of Man waters. Its service makes a significant contribution to the prevention of accidents and incidents around the coastline, safeguarding not only lives and property, but also protecting our precious marine environment.
Trinity House
Trinity House is a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers, providing education, support and welfare to the seafaring community with a statutory duty as a General Lighthouse Authority to deliver a reliable, efficient and cost-effective aids to navigation service for the benefit and safety of all mariners.