Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday virtually inaugurated the third Session of the Council of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) at Mumbai.
The five-day event from December 8-12 is centred around developments in maritime navigation technology, the importance of global cooperation, and India’s rising role in shaping the future of global maritime standards.
Delighted to inaugurate the 3rd Council Meeting of International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) in Mumbai.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) December 9, 2025
It is a matter of great pride to welcome global leaders to shape the future of safe and sustainable navigation. Under the visionary leadership of PM… pic.twitter.com/s4FhXAIr0E
Organised by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) under the MoPSW, this event brings together 42 IALA Council members, three AIMG members, 11 observers, IALA Secretariat delegates, and representatives from more than 30 countries. India is itself an active IALA Council member.
The event also saw the shipping minister launch the Digital Ticketing Portal for Lighthouse Tourism, said to be a major step towards the digitisation of visitor services across India.
This initiative marks India's push for digital access, transparency, and convenience for visitors across 75 lighthouse destinations in India. He also pointed out that all lighthouses in India are now solar-powered, and tourism at these sites had grown significantly over the past decade.
"As technologies such as autonomous shipping, satellite-based navigation systems, and digitalisation rapidly evolve, the role of IALA in global harmonisation of navigation standards becomes even more critical. India stands firmly with IALA in pursuit of safe, efficient and sustainable navigation," Sonowal said.
Reiterating that aids to navigation were central to maritime safety, the shipping minister noted that India continues to invest in modern AtoN systems, digital navigation solutions, and capacity-building for developing maritime nations.
This comes amid what he called the country's "transformational shift" in this sector, in line with its larger maritime ambitions under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
