The Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations has begun evaluating the decision to join the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and the International Mobile Satellite Organisation (IMSO).
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the decision to join IALA and IMSO after extensive discussions with his cabinet on the paper submitted by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
IALA encourages its members to work together to develop marine aids for navigation worldwide, ensuring that the movements of vessels are safe while protecting the marine environment. Some of the advantages of joining IALA include strengthening maritime cooperation with IALA member countries and ensuring the reliability of the maritime safety system.
Additionally, joining IALA would help the Maldives acquire navigational aids, particularly in the modernisation of reef lights, the establishment of reef light monitoring through contemporary technology, and the facilitation of reef light information to vessels through technological assistance from other nations. It will also contribute to the protection of the marine environment of the Maldives.
Furthermore, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which the Maldives is a member of, passed the Convention on the IMSO in 1967. IMSO was formed under the treaty as the inter-governmental body that oversees certain satellite-based maritime distress communication services, specifically those used in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
Additionally, IMSO also facilitates the operation of the Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) System to provide for the global identification and tracking of ships to enhance the security of shipping and for safety and marine environment protection. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), adopted in 1974, mandates countries party to the treaty to implement the GMDSS and LRIT systems.