Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation to Go into Effect

- Expected to expand international cooperation significantly in areas such as autonomous ships, digital navigation aids, marine big data, and marine communications

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation will go into effect on August 22.

 A non-governmental international organization, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) prepared a draft convention in 2013 to transform into an intergovernmental organization (IGO) to strengthen the international acceptance of navigation aids. It has accepted signatures from member countries since January 2021.

 After signing the convention in April 2021, the Korean government became the 12th country to deposit its ratification instrument in December 2022 following Singapore, Japan, and France. As 90 days have passed after the 30th country deposited its ratification instrument under the convention, the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation entered into force on August 22.

 With the transformation of the IALA into an ILO, international standards related to navigational aids such as maritime traffic signal systems are expected to be introduced systematically in countries worldwide with enforceability. Moreover, international cooperation with the relevant intergovernmental organizations is forecast to expand significantly in areas recently attracting considerable international attention, such as autonomous ships, digital navigation aids, marine big data, and marine communications.

 Accordingly, Korea is expected to reflect proactively the latest excellent navigation aid technology, such as communication network based on navigation aids, eco-friendly multipurpose navigation aids, and smart navigation aids, in international navigation aid standards and establish a foothold for leading navigation aid technology and equipment to enter overseas markets.