On Saturday, July 1, 2023 the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) joined the global maritime community in celebrating the fifth World Marine Aids to Navigation (WAtoN) Day, under the theme, “Marine Aids to Navigation-Successful Voyages, Sustainable Planet”.
Commemorating the day, the Commissioner of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), Lenn Eugene Nagbe, said, “In 2022, Liberia, through the Liberia Maritime Authority, rejoined the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities at a National Member. This was a giant step in fulfilling our obligations under SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 13, which provides for the establishment and operation of marine aids to navigation in seaports, IALA’s objective being to harmonize AtoN standards, facilitate safety and efficiency of navigation and the protection of the environment. Since rejoining, Liberia continues to benefit from the global organization through capacity building and building strategic partnerships and alliances.
“The importance of Marine Aids to Navigation in our ports needs not to be overstressed. For those who don’t know, Marine Aids to Navigation are all devices, systems, or services, outside of the ship, that are designed and operated with the aim of improving the safety and efficiency of the navigation of ships and individual vessels and/or maritime traffic. These comprise buoys, day beacons, lights, lightships, radio beacons, fog signals, marks and other devices used to provide the equivalent of street signs, but on the water.
“Imagine our roads and streets without traffic signs, lights and other traffic safety systems and devices. The instances and likelihood of accidents and the lack of orderly traffic system could be common place. This is exactly the case with marine aids to navigation to shipping. There must be the appropriate marine aids to navigation in our seaports to enable vessels to safely enter and exit in an orderly and safe manner,” Maritime Commissioner Nagbe said.
“All stakeholders including the National Port Authority, the Liberian Coast Guard and others must start to give this sector very keen attention. We have a convention obligation to provide the appropriate marine aids to navigation in our port.”
In line with the global for this year’s celebration, the Liberia Maritime Authority developed a local theme, “Marine Aids to Navigation—Ensuring Navigational Safety for Greater Productivity”, and seeks to highlight the significance of Marine Aids to Navigation to the proper functioning of our ports and the wider shipping sector.
The celebration of WAtoNs Day is in accordance with a Resolution adopted on May 29, 2018 at the 13th General Assembly of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).