The Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, Dr. Eng. Farhan Fartousi, received today, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the company’s headquarter, the representative of the International Organization of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), Ms. Gerardine Delanoye. The meeting aimed to explore opportunities of mutual cooperation in the fields of enhancing maritime safety and developing the infrastructure for marine navigation aids in Iraq.

The Director General stated, “We welcomed the representative of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA), Ms. Gerardine Delanoye, and discussed mechanisms for expanding technical and operational cooperation in line with international standards set by IALA. This collaboration aims to achieve the highest levels of safety for vessel movements within Iraqi waters, especially amidst the growing expansion of major maritime projects in Iraqi ports, foremost among them being Al Faw Grand Port project.”

He emphasized the significant importance of such engagements, noting that Iraq can benefit from the expertise of the international organization to strengthen the capabilities of its ports in unifying navigation signal systems and transferring advanced technologies in safe navigation fields. This is particularly crucial as Iraq is gearing up for greater institutional integration into the global maritime system.

It is noteworthy that the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) was established in 1957 as a non-profit international technical association. It officially transitioned into an intergovernmental organization in August 2024, following the entry into force of the founding convention. To date, the organization comprises 39 member states and works to unify and develop standards for marine navigation aids (AtoN), ensuring safe and efficient vessel movements while protecting the marine environment.

IALA is globally recognized as a leading authority in issuing technical standards for navigation aids and has contributed to the development of pivotal systems, including the International Maritime Buoyage System (IALA MBS), Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), Automatic Identification System (AIS), Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), and data exchange systems via VHF waves (VDES).