International Association of Lighthouse Authorities
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (or IALA for short) is a non-profit organization founded 1957 to collect and provide nautical expertise and advise. Its office is located in St. Germain-en-laye, France.
The IALA is primarily known for its buoyage or sea mark systems that are used in the pilotage of vessels at sea:
- Lateral marks - indicate the edges of a channel
- Cardinal marks - indicate the direction of safe water at a dangerous spot
- Safe water marks - indicate the deep water and open end of a channel
- Special marks - indicate administrative areas, such as, speed restrictions or water sking areas
- Isolated danger marks - indicate a hazard to shipping
Each type of mark has a distinctive colour, shape and possibly a characteristic light.
See also
- International Hydrographic Organization
- Homepage of IALA [1]
- IALA - FLA