The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouses (IALA) has asked the Nautical Institute, the worldwide professional mariners’ organisation, to carry out a new survey of user feedback on how mariners “use and value” AtoN (Aids to Navigation) and VTS (Vessel Traffic Services).
This follows a previous survey undertaken eight years ago, in 2018, when the Institute offered to carry it out.
“Many things in the world have changed in those eight years,” according to David Patraiko, Director of Projects at the Institute, who co-ordinates its Technical and Professional Development Committees.
“One of the big changes in navigation has been the proliferation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) disruptions. The weakness was always known, but with little evidence of deliberate jamming or spoofing, it was hard to justify investment in more resilient systems.
“Today, of course, jamming and spoofing are common in some areas, particularly those in conflict, and there is a renewed interest in finding resilience in PNT systems – Positioning, Navigation and Timing. Better access to the internet provides greater ship-shore communication and an increased amount of data. New technology is also emerging with the advent of optical systems.”
The issue of GPS jamming and spoofing was highlighted at the National Maritime College of Ireland’s Seafarers’ Conference in March. In 2024, the General Lighthouse Authorities also sought feedback from mariners on aids to navigation around Ireland and Great Britain.
The results of the new user survey will be presented to IALA and the Institute to provide a snapshot of current navigation practices and inform future developments, Mr Patraiko writes in the October edition of Seaways, the Institute’s monthly journal.
Its 12,000 members worldwide are being asked to contribute their views about current AtoN and VTS systems.
IALA, established in 1957 and now an intergovernmental organisation, brings together marine aids to navigation authorities, manufacturers, consultants, and scientific and training institutes from around the world. Ireland was elected to the IALA Council in 2025.
