The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) published on 1st August 2007 a notice in the Federal Register a request for public comment on the Nationwide Differential GPS (NDGPS) system.

This event took place at Trinity House, London, from 2nd to 4th July 2007 and was attended by 82 delegates from 25 countries.

On the first forenoon there were welcomes from Rear-Admiral Jeremy de Halpert, Deputy Master of Trinity House and Torsten Kruuse Secretary General of IALA. Admiral Efthimios Mitopoulos, IMO’s Secretary General delivered the keynote speech in which he reminded delegates of the agreed definition of e-Navigation:
“E-Navigation is the harmonised collection, integration, exchange and presentation of maritime information onboard and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth to berth navigation and related services, for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment.”

On 1st July 2007, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) celebrated the 50th anniversary of its formation.

On 29th May the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of the United Kingdom and Ireland launched their GLA Radio Navigation Plan (GRNP) that sets out how the GLAs are going to deliver the radionavigation aspects of their Marine Aids to Navigation Strategy, 2020 The Vision in support of the emerging e-navigation concept.

The following Officers of IAIN were elected in Jeju:
President: Dick Smith.
Senior Vice-President: President NNF.
Vice-President: President AIN.
Vice-President: President OVN.
Small members? rep: Boris Rivkin.
Treasurer: Johan Rutten.
Secretary General: Norman Bonnor.
Immediate Past-President: Bengt Stahl.

A number of issues were raised during the General Assembly at the 12th World Congress in Jeju, Republic of Korea, and these are now being addressed by the Officers, who will next meet on Monday, 28th May 2007 at the International Convention Centre, Geneva, Switzerland prior to the ENC-2007 Conference.

For those not present in Jeju, the 13th Triennial Congress will be held in Stockholm from 27th to 30th October 2009, and the next General Assembly will therefore be in Stockholm on 26th October 2009.

Since the World Congress, our President, Captain Dick Smith, has been honoured to accept a request from NASA to serve in the capacity of IAINs representative to the US Space-Based PNT Advisory Board. The Officers have also asked Dr Elisabeth Klaffenboeck to act as IAINs representative to the International Committee on GNSS (ICG) of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA); this relatively new committee came about as the result of a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly related to the peaceful uses of outer space.

All those involved in navigation and transport will have been shocked to hear the sad news that Loyola de Palacio had died. She was such an important figure in European politics and transport policy not the least for her advocacy of GALILEO.