Solomon Islands deposited its instrument accession to the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) with the Government of France to become the 35th Member State of IALA.
The objective of IALA is to foster safe and efficient movements of vessels through the improvement and harmonization of marine aids to navigation worldwide and promoting access to technical cooperation and capacity building.
Aids to navigation are essential systems and devices such as lighthouses, beacons and marks installed to enhance safety of navigation and participate in protecting the marine environment from the maritime traffic.
This process of becoming a member of IALA is the result of a long-standing technical cooperation between the Government of Solomon Islands and IALA through the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA).
SIMA benefited from IALA and the Pacific Community (SPC) technical assistance to build its capacity and systems to deliver aids to navigation services compliant to IALA standards.
The Solomon Islands delegation was led by H.E. Mr. Moses Kouni Mose, Ambassador to the European Union joined by Ms. Agnes Gaote’e, SIMA Deputy Director.
The instrument of accession to the IALA Convention was delivered to Myriam
Saint-Pierre, Deputy Director of Asia Department of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs as depository of the convention.
At this occasion, Ambassador Mose thanked the government of France for the long-standing support rendered to IALA and the support to IALA transition from an international association to an international organisation. He emphasized the importance of safety of navigation in Solomon Islands as the guardian of 1.6 square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean from which Solomon Islands communities rely on.
This mission was also the opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to IALA Secretary-General, Mr. Francis Zachariae to present the instrument of accession and discuss Solomon Islands’ long-term strategy to develop e- navigation for all in and offer all Solomon Islanders safe and technology advanced navigation systems.
As it was said by Ambassador Mose several times during the discussions: “We are committed to be an active member of IALA and look forward to further collaboration with the Organisation develop capacity and adopt new technologies. We do not want to be left behind and are committed to embrace the best technologies and practices in the safety of navigation services in Solomon Islands”.
Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit