International Association of Lighthouse Authorities

The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities ( IALA ) is an organization for international cooperation of Lighthouse Authorities. It was a loose association responsible for aids to navigation authorities of the member countries in 1957 as the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities, French: founded the International Association of Maritime signaling ( AISM ) and was later renamed. It has its headquarters in Saint- Germain -en- Laye, France.

The IALA is best known by the international standardization of navigation marks.

Among the navaids include:

  • The beacons and lighthouses
  • The Lateralsystem - marking of waterways
  • The cardinal system - marking of hazardous areas (eg shoals )
  • Marking safe water - marking when the open sea is reached
  • Special markings - marking special areas eg for water or naval exercises
  • Single hazards - mark individual danger points for shipping

Each navaids used in this case has its characteristic color, top marks and beacon identifier.

Saint-Germain-en-Laye Cardinal mark
37414
de