IMO is currently accepting nominations for exceptional acts of bravery performed at sea during the period 1 March 2025 to 28 February 2026. Nominations may also involve displays of extraordinary seamanship skills in very difficult conditions or any other acts of outstanding courage at sea. The nomination form can be submitted by any IMO Member State, intergovernmental organization in cooperation with IMO and non-governmental organization in consultative status with IMO. Please note the deadline for submission is 31 March 2026. Further information, including the Guidelines and the nomination form in Word format, can be found in the links below in the three working languages of the Organization:

Flyer in English

Flyer in French

Flyer in Spanish

Background information

Following the Council’s decision, at its 125th session, the Guidelines for the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea were revised to reflect the establishment of the three categories of honour: the Award, Certificates of Commendation and Letters of Commendation. Subsequently, the Council approved the revised Guidelines at its 127th session in July 2022 and, as a result, the name of the scheme became the “IMO Honours for Exceptional Bravery at Sea”.

The honours are awarded annually and were established by the Organization to provide international recognition for those who, at the risk of losing their own life, perform acts of exceptional bravery, displaying outstanding courage in attempting to save life at sea or in  attempting to prevent or mitigate damage to the marine environment. Such acts of bravery may also involve extraordinary seamanship skills in very difficult conditions or any other display of outstanding courage.

Nominations are scrutinized by an Assessment Panel made up of members of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO, under the Chairship of the Secretary-General or his nominee. Subsequently, a Panel of Judges meets (under the Chairship of  the Chair of the Council, with the participation of the Chairs of the Maritime Safety Committee, Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Legal Committee, the Technical Co-operation Committee and the Facilitation Committee) to consider the recommendations of the Assessment Panel and to select the recipient of the Award.

The recipients of the Award and Certificates of Commendation will be invited to attend the IMO Awards Ceremony to receive their accolades in person. Recipients of Letters of Commendation may also attend the ceremony, if they wish – however, their letters will be posted to the nominating authorities, which will be responsible for forwarding/presenting the accolade to the recipients.

Read more at the IMO’s official announcement:

https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/ero/pages/imohonoursexceptionalbravery.aspx

In response to the growing need for standardization arising from the rapid global development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) technology, the IAIN convened an online thematic meeting on June 4, 2025. The meeting, held pursuant to a decision made by the Officers’ Committee on May 20, 2025, focused on the establishment of a technical committee for standards. IAIN President Zhang Baochen, Senior Vice President Salvatore Gaglione , and Secretary General Hesham Helaljointly attended the meeting.

In recent years, driven by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), numerous countries and regions, including several EU member states, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and China, have intensified their research, development, and experimentation with MASS. Autonomous technology is increasingly becoming a major trend in the evolution of maritime navigation. By reducing human intervention, this technology holds the potential to mitigate crew shortages and lower risks to maritime safety, presenting broad application prospects. However, MASS operation heavily relies on modern communication, navigation, sensing, and artificial intelligence technologies, placing higher demands on the supply of navigational information. This is particularly critical in congested waters, where instantaneous, accurate, and highly reliable environmental perception and decision support are essential. Concurrently, a lack of unified technical standards persists in areas such as environmental perception, information processing, situational awareness, and collision avoidance decision-making. The prolonged absence of such standards could not only lead to duplicated research and development efforts but also pose potential threats to navigation safety and efficiency.

At the level of international maritime governance, the IMO is currently drafting the MASS Code, which is expected to be implemented voluntarily in 2028 and become mandatory in 2032. The current draft Code primarily outlines functional requirements and does not yet address specific technical standards. Following the proceedings at the IMO on behalf of its member institutes, and in accordance with its constitutional aim “to establish technical committees to study specific issues and formulate appropriate recommendations and standards,” IAIN has decided to establish a technical committee for standards. Its initial primary focus will be on MASS technology, aiming to foster technological development, enhance cooperation, and support international maritime governance.

During the meeting, consensus was reached regarding the committee’s organizational structure. The committee will comprise seven members: three standing members (the President, Senior Vice President, and Secretary General for the 2025-2027 term), and four rotating members nominated annually by IAIN Member Institutes. Zhang Baochen will serve as the inaugural Chair. The nomination process for the rotating members will commence shortly. The nominated candidates will be reviewed by the three standing members before being submitted to the Officers’ Committee for final confirmation.

The meeting also proposed the establishment of a Secretariat for the committee. The inaugural Secretariat will be located in China, with support provided on a voluntary basis by personnel seconded from member units of the China Institute of Navigation. To ensure operational continuity and global representation, the Secretariat’s location will rotate in the future, aligning with the institution of the  Chair.

Regarding the work plan, the Chair will take the lead in drafting the committee’s rules of procedure, defining its scope, responsibilities, meeting protocols, and decision-making mechanisms. The committee’s inaugural standardization project will focus on “terminology for autonomous ships.” The draft standard is planned for completion in 2026, after which it will enter a consultation period. Following the consultation, the list of nominated members, the rules of procedure, and the first standard will be submitted for review at the 2026 Officers’ Committee meeting as soon as possible. According to the plan, the committee will convene its inaugural meeting immediately after the Officers’ meeting. Subsequently, all committee meetings will be scheduled in conjunction with IAIN Officers’ Committee meetings to enhance efficiency.

In the near term, the committee will focus on studying core technical issues in the field of autonomous navigation, organizing research and deliberation on standards, and preparing IAIN to provide expert advice to the IMO and other relevant international organizations in a timely manner. The convening of this preparatory meeting marks a substantive step by IAIN in the global effort to collaboratively establish technical standards for MASS, demonstrating a proactive commitment to addressing technological change and advancing industry standards.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media,

Good afternoon!

I am honored to serve as the new President of the International Association of Institutes of Navigation (IAIN). This is both an encouragement for my personal career and service to the international community, as well as a new challenge for me. I would like to thank all members of the Officers’ Committee for their support, thank all IAIN member institutes for their trust, and of course, thank the China Institute of Navigation (CIN), especially President He Jianzhong, for nominating me to join the previous Officers’ Committee three years ago, where I was appointed IAIN Senior Vice-President.

Over the past three years, I have developed deep friendships and mutual trust with my predecessor, Mr. Krzysztof Czaplewski, and all other members of the Officers’ Committee. It should be emphasized that IAIN has a long history. The wise leadership of successive Presidents such as Krzysztof Czaplewski and John Pottle, Secretaries General such as Hesham Helal and Simon Gaskin, and other Officers has ensured the operation and steady development of IAIN in accordance with its Constitution. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude and high respect to all of them.

Now begins the new term of the IAIN Officers’ Committee. This concerns not only how we can work together with all members to achieve good performance for IAIN over the next three years, but also how we can ensure that IAIN moves toward a brighter future and better fulfills the aims of our association.

This is a fundamental question that I, and every Officer, should consider. I believe that we will listen to everyone’s views, reach consensus, and provide our answer as soon as possible. In this process, we will keep in mind the need to listen as much as possible to voices from different parts of the world and to represent as wide a range of interests as possible.

I hope that from now on, we can prioritize improving our ability to fulfill IAIN’s purposes and functions, commit to accelerating the expansion of our membership and broad participation in the association’s activities, strive to enhance the appeal of navigation technology to young professionals in the field, and endeavor to strengthen our presence and contributions.

We know that navigation technology is not only ubiquitous in today’s world, but it is also showing an accelerated trend of integration with new and rapidly advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Taking the development and application of autonomous ship navigation technology as an example, the rapid progress in both technological development and application calls for a deeper, more diverse, and broader platform and vehicle for exchange and cooperation, as well as a more convenient, reliable, and standardized support mechanism and channel that meets integrated needs.

I know that there may be many difficulties and challenges, but if these are the directions and priorities defined by IAIN’s Constitution, then we have every reason to work hard toward them.

Officers, representatives of member institutes, experts and scholars, ladies and gentlemen, as the new President of IAIN, I will carry out my duties with enthusiasm and responsibility, and work together with other Officers to make positive efforts in serving our members and advancing IAIN itself.

The IAIN World Congress 2024 is now coming to an end. As one of the organizers of the Congress, I would like to thank the previous Officers’ Committee for its leadership and full support and cooperation with me and the Congress, thank all member institutes and experts for their participation and selfless contributions, thank all participants for being the protagonists of the Congress, and thank CIN and all supporting institutions and personnel involved in organizing and servicing the Congress. Thank you all for your understanding and tolerance regarding any shortcomings in our work.

Now, let us look forward to the next World Congress in Krakow, Poland.

Thank you all!

Group Photo at the IAIN 2024 World Congress Closing Ceremony

On October 30th, the two-day IAIN World Congress 2024 concluded in Beijing. Experts and delegates engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions around the theme “Expanding Navigation Applications, Empowering the Future of Humanity.”They shared the latest research achievements in the field of navigation and maritime technology and explored the possibilities for the future development of navigation applications.

17th IAIN President Christopher Czaplewski presiding over the closing ceremony

At the closing ceremony, Christopher Czaplewski, the 17th President of IAIN, announced the composition of the new Officers’ Committee. Zhang Baochen, Executive President of the China Institute of Navigation, was elected as the 18th President of IAIN. The other members of the Officers’ Committee include: Senior Vice-President Salvatore Gaglione (IIN), Vice-President Bart Banning (NIN), Vice-President Thomas Southall (RIN), Secretary General Hesham Helal (AIN), Treasurer Tom Willems (NIN), and Immediate Past-President Krzysztof Czaplewski (PNF), all serving until 2027.

Group photo of the newly elected IAIN Executive Committee members attending in person

18th IAIN President Zhang Baochen delivering a speech

During the closing ceremony, Zhang Baochen stated that the new IAIN officers will focus on enhancing IAIN’s ability to fulfill its mission and role, continuously expand the breadth and participation of academic exchange activities. As navigation technology accelerates its integration with new technologies like artificial intelligence, the new IAIN officers will collaborate with all members to establish diverse and extensive exchange and cooperation platforms, creating a more convenient, reliable, and integrated standardization working mechanism.

On Oct.28, the Officers’ Meeting and the General Assembly were held. The Officers’ Meeting reviewed and approved the financial report, ratified the IAIN awards for 2024, including conferring Honorary Membership upon John Pottle and Simon Gaskin, and confirmed the officers for 2024-2027. The General Assembly, held in a hybrid format, formally approved the award results.

During the Congress, over 40 Chinese and international paper authors presented their work in four parallel sessions. Following the IAIN paper evaluation mechanism, and based on a comprehensive assessment by expert judges considering innovation, scientific rigor, practicality, as well as the presenter’s delivery, content depth, and influence, the paper titled “Positioning Method Based on Radar Reference Targets in GNSS-Denied Maritime Environments” by Chinese authors Sun Shuai, Lyu Hongguang, Yang Xiao, and Yang Yang was awarded the prestigious “Sadek Award” for the best paper of the Congress.

IAIN President Zhang Baochen presenting the Sadek Award to the winner Sun Shuai

The closing ceremony also announced that the next IAIN World Congress will be held in Krakow, Poland, in 2027. Janusz Uriasz, Chairman of the Polish Navigation Forum, provided an overview of the host city and preliminary preparations for the next Congress.

Profile of Zhang Baochen

The newly elected 18th President of IAIN, is a Professor，Senior Engineer and Chief Expert of China Waterborne Transport Research Institute. He also serves as Executive President of the China Institute of Navigation , and Deputy Director of the Technical Cooperation Committee of National Key Laboratory of Waterway Traffic Control.

Born in 1960, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in navigation from Dalian Maritime University and his master’s degree in Transportation Information Engineering and Control. He has long been engaged in the research and development, engineering application and industry promotion of traffic safety and intelligent shipping technologies.

He has presided over 3 national-level scientific and technological research projects including Key Technologies for Ship Intelligent Navigation and Control Based on Ship-Shore Collaboration, and many ministerial-level projects such as Prevention and Control of Extra-Huge Safety Risks in Ports and Shipping Based on Typical Cases, Industrial and Technological Development Roadmap of Intelligent Shipping, and Safety Supervision and Service Guarantee System for Intelligent Shipping. He has published many papers, been granted more than 20 invention patents, and authored monographs including Ship Intelligent Navigation Technology, Unveiling Intelligent Shipping and ISM Code and Its Implementation.

He has won 3 Grand Prizes and 4 First Prizes of the Science and Technology Award of the China Institute of Navigation, and 1 First Prize of Qingdao Science and Technology Progress Award.

He has successively served as Director of the Safety Committee Office of the Ministry of Transport, Deputy Director-general of Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration, Director-general of Shandong/ Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration, President and Academic Committee Director of China Waterborne Transport Research Institute, etc.

On Oct.29, the International Association of Institutes of Navigation (IAIN) World Congress 2024 commenced this morning in Beijing, with its Opening Ceremony and Plenary Session drawing over 300 participants from across the globe. Held under the theme “Expanding Navigation Applications, Empowering the Future of Humanity,” the Congress is hosted by the China Institute of Navigation (CIN) and focuses on advances in satellite navigation and related technologies.

Attendees included IAIN member representatives, researchers, academics, and industry experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Egypt, Japan, South Korea, China, and other countries. The program features keynote speeches, technical paper presentations, and exhibitions aimed at exploring integrated applications of navigation, communications, remote sensing, and emerging technologies.

IAIN President Krzysztof Czaplewski addressed the congress

Discussions during the opening highlighted several forward-looking trends in navigation technology, including intelligent systems, high-precision positioning, multi-modal interaction, and integration with autonomous driving. These developments are expected to enable more accurate guidance, personalized services, and new models of production and daily life.

The Congress continues with technical sessions and dialogues on standardization, sustainability, education, and cross-sector collaboration, serving as a platform for global experts to share insights and strengthen cooperation in the field of navigation.

At the opening ceremony, the International Association of Institutes of Navigation (IAIN) presented several prestigious awards, including the John Harrison Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Necho Award for Special Achievement, and the Honorary Membership Award. Chinese global circumnavigator Zhai Mo was honored with the Necho Award, becoming the first Chinese recipient of this distinction. The John Harrison Award was conferred upon Dana Goward, President of the U.S. Resilient Navigation and Timing (RNT) Foundation, while former IAIN President John Pottle and former Secretary-General Simon Gaskin received Honorary Membership Awards.

The John Harrison Award（The awardee is Dana Goward, who accepted the award online, and Hesham Helal accepted the award on-site on his behalf.）

The Necho Award（Awardee: Zhai Mo）

Honorary Membership（The awardees are John Pottle and Simon Gaskin, with the award accepted on Mr. Gaskin’s behalf by Salvatore Gaglione）

Following the awards presentation, the Plenary Session featured a series of compelling keynote speeches from world-renowned navigation experts. These addresses delved into the most pressing topics and cutting-edge developments in the field, from the architecture of major satellite navigation systems like Beidou to the future of autonomous shipping and aircraft navigation. The distinguished lineup of speakers underscored the congress’s role as a premier global forum for sharing knowledge and fostering international collaboration to shape the future of navigation technology for the benefit of humanity.

Liu Jingnan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of National Engineering Research Center for Satellite Positioning System, delivered a keynote speech on “Beidou Satellite Navigation System and Its Applications”.

ZHANG Baochen, Senior Vice-President of IAIN and Chinese autonomous navigation expert, delivered a keynote speech on “MASS and Navigation”.

Dana Goward, President of the U.S. Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation, delivered a keynote speech on “Cooperation and Conflict Building Tomorrow’s Navigation to Bring the World Together” (via remote participation).

Salvatore Gaglione, Vice President of IAIN, delivered a keynote speech on “Latest Developments in Navigation Technology Application”.

Adam Weintrit, Rector of Gdynia Maritime University, Poland, delivered a keynote speech on “A Balanced Reaction of the Maritime Education Sector to Marine Technology Development including Autonomous Surface Shipping”.

Bart Banning, Vice President of IAIN and President of the Netherlands Institute of Navigation, delivered a keynote speech on “The Transition of Aircraft Navigation Towards a Global True North System”.

The IAIN World Congress 2024, running through October 30, stands as a testament to the power of global cooperation in advancing navigation science and technology. By bringing together the world’s leading minds under the theme “Expanding Navigation Application, Empowering the Future of Humanity,” the event not only showcases breakthrough innovations but also fosters the cross-sector partnerships necessary to address tomorrow’s challenges. As navigation technologies increasingly underpin autonomous systems, intelligent transportation, and everyday life, the outcomes of this congress will resonate far beyond Beijing, shaping the future of how humanity moves across sea, air, land, and space.

At the 74^th session of the IALA Council in December, as part of a policy to support the vital work of IALA members around the world, issue was approved of two recommendations, twelve guidelines and three model courses.

Here below the documents are listed and may be downloaded at no charge:

Recommendations

Revised R0139 The Marking of Man-made Offshore Structures Ed3.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/marking-of-man-made-offshore-structures-o-139/

Revised R0126 The Use of AIS in Marine Aids to Navigation Ed2.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/r0126-the-use-of-the-automatic-identification-system-ais-in-marine-aids-to-navigation-services-a-126/

Guidelines

Revised G1078 The Use of AtoN in the Design of Fairways & Channels Ed2.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/minimum-comprehensive-mix-of-aton-in-fairways-including-dredged-channels-and-canals-1078/

Revised G1054 Preparing for an IMO Audit on Aids to Navigation Service Delivery Ed2.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/preparing-for-a-voluntary-imo-audit-on-aids-to-navigation-service-delivery-1054/

Revised G1128 The Specification of e-Navigation Technical Services Ed1.3.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/g1128-specification-e-navigation-technical-services/

New G1162 The Marking of Offshore Man-made structures Ed1.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/g1162-ed1-0-the-making-of-offshore-man-made-structures/

New G1163 The Marking of Breakwaters and barriers Ed1.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/g1163-ed-1-0-the-marking-of-breakwaters-and-barriers/

New G1164 Management of Maritime Resource Name Organization Identifiers Ed1.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/g1164-ed1-0-management-of-maritime-resource-name-organisation-identifiers/

Revised G1065 AtoN Signal Light Beam Vertical Divergence Ed4.1.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/aids-to-navigation-signal-light-beam-vertical-divergence-1065/

New G1165 Sustainable Structural Design of Marine Aids to Navigation Ed1.0

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/g1165-ed1-0-sustainable-structural-design-of-marine-aids-to-navigation/

Revised G1014 Accreditation of VTS Training Organizations and Approval to Deliver IALA VTS Model Courses Ed4.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/guideline-on-the-accreditation-and-approval-process-for-vts-training/

Revised G1110 Use of Decision Support Tools for VTS personnel Ed2.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/use-of-decision-support-tools-for-vts-personnel-1110/

New G1166 VTS in Inland Waters Ed1.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/g1166-ed1-0-vts-in-inland-waters/

New G1167 VTS Management Ed1.0.

file:///C:/Users/Paul/AppData/Local/Temp/G1167-Ed1.0-VTS-Management.pdf

Model Courses

Model Course C2001-8 L2 Module 1.13 Maintenance of Steel Buoys Ed3.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/c2001-8-l2-module-1-13-maintenance-of-steel-buoys-ed-3-0/

Model Course C2001-9 L2 Module 1.14 Power Sources on Buoys Ed3.0.

See here: https://www.iala-aism.org/product/l2-module-1-14-power-sources-on-buoys-ed-3-0/

See here: Model Course C2007-1 L2 Module 7.1&2 Racons Ed3.0.

https://www.iala-aism.org/product/l2-module-7-12-racons-ed-3-0/

Other IALA publications

Members may wish to be rediscover The IALA VTS Manual issued in 2021

The VTS Manual has been a signature document and information source for Governments, Competent Authorities, VTS Authorities, mariners and allied services since first published in 1993. The Manual is a product of collaboration by the world’s leading experts through the VTS Committee, which has the primary oversight for its compilation and editing.

The membership of IALA represents most of the world’s leading national maritime authorities whose delegates are widely experienced VTS professionals.

The IALA VTS Committee is also supported through participation from relevant international sister organizations. This ensures that the Committee is able to speak with international authority on VTS matters and, importantly, to develop new procedures to meet the emerging needs for modern traffic management and to enhance maritime safety.

The 41-page A4 Manual is available to download at no cost here:

https://www.iala-aism.org/product-category/publications/manuals/

In addition Members may wish to be aware of The IALA Navguide:

The IALA Marine Aids to Navigation Manual, otherwise known as The Navguide has been a signature document and information source for IALA members and users for many years. The 2018 edition of the Guide continues this proud tradition and sees it updated with the latest information and developments in the field of Marine Aids to Navigation technology and application.

The Guide is a product of four years’ collaboration by the world’s leading experts on Marine Aids to Navigation, produced by the four primary Committees at IALA, Aton Requirements and Management (ARM); Aton Engineering and Sustainability (ENG); e-navigation (ENAV) and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS). The ARM Committee has the primary oversight for the document’s editing and production.

The Guide plays an important role within the IALA information suite and is regarded as a primary source of information for Marine Aids to Navigation practitioners around the world, along with IALA Standards, Recommendations, Guidelines, Manuals and other publications.

This publication at 184-pages is also available at no charge here:

https://www.iala-aism.org/product-category/publications/manuals/

According to the European Space Agency (ESA) on 8 January 2022 the James Webb Space Telescope team successfully fully deployed its iconic 6.4-metre, gold-coated primary mirror, completing the final stage of all major spacecraft deployments to prepare for science operations.

Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General, commented: ‘The successful unfolding of the Webb telescope has been a complex but impressive engineering masterpiece. On behalf of ESA, I want to sincerely congratulate our colleagues at NASA for this achievement.

‘Webb is an international partnership led by NASA, where ESA is providing key contributions in the form of instruments, science teams and, very importantly, a successful launch on Christmas Day from the European Spaceport in Kourou. I am grateful to NASA, CSA and our European team including CNES, Arianespace and ArianeGroup for this excellent cooperation.’

The two wings of Webb’s primary mirror were folded to fit inside the fairing of an ESA-provided Ariane 5 rocket prior to launch. After more than a week of other critical spacecraft deployments, the Webb team began remotely unfolding the hexagonal mirror segments of the largest mirror ever launched into space.

This was a multi-day process, with the first (port) side of the mirror deployed on 7 January and the second (starboard) side of the mirror deployed on 8 January. Mission Operations Center ground control at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore began deployment of the starboard mirror at 1353 GMT/1453 CET. Once the primary mirror’s second side panel extended out and latched into position at 1817 GMT/1917 CET, all deployments were declared complete.

To align the optics

The world’s largest and most complex space science observatory will now begin releasing and moving its 18 primary mirror segments to align the telescope optics. The ground team will command 126 actuators on the reverse side of the segmented mirrors into position and flex each mirror – an alignment process that will take months to complete. Then, the science instruments will undergo a calibration period, prior to delivering Webb’s first images this summer.

Soon, Webb will also make a third mid-course correction burn – one of three planned course corrections to place the spacecraft precisely in orbit around the second Lagrange point, commonly known as L2, 1.5 million km from Earth. This is Webb’s final orbital position, where its sunshield will protect it from light from the Sun, Earth and Moon that could interfere with observations of infrared light. Webb is designed to peer back over 13.5 billion years to capture infrared light from celestial objects with much higher resolution than ever before, and to study our own Solar System as well as distant worlds.

Professor Günther Hasinger, ESA Director of Science added: ‘We are thrilled that the complex telescope unfolding worked successfully. Now we hold our breath for the optics alignment, the instrument commissioning, and finally the fascinating first science results.’

Ariane 5 launch vehicle

Webb is the largest, most powerful telescope ever launched into space. As part of an international collaboration agreement, ESA has provided the telescope’s launch service using the Ariane 5 launch vehicle. Working with partners, ESA was responsible for the development and qualification of Ariane 5 adaptations for the Webb mission and for the procurement of the launch service by Arianespace. ESA has also provided the workhorse spectrograph NIRSpec and 50% of the mid-infrared instrument MIRI, in collaboration with the University of Arizona. Webb is an international partnership between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

An animated sequence of the unfolding operation is available here:

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Webb_deployment_complete

Illustration per www.esa.int ©

An interesting paperback title has been received in recent weeks: The Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation: The Commonwealth’s Wars 1948-1966, by Robert Jackson, published by Pen & Sword Aviation.

The struggle with Communist terrorists in Malaya known as The Emergency became a textbook example of how to fight a guerrilla war, based on political as much as military means. This book deals with both the campaign fought by British, Commonwealth and other security forces in Malaya against Communist insurgents, between 1948 and 1960, and also the security action in North Borneo during the period of Confrontation with Indonesia from 1962 to 1966. Both campaigns provided invaluable experience in the development of anti-guerrilla tactics, and are relevant to the conduct of similar actions which have been fought against insurgent elements since then.

After a successful launch of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope on 25 December, and completion of two mid-course correction manoeuvres, the Webb team has analysed its initial trajectory and determined the observatory should have enough propellant to allow support of science operations in orbit for significantly more than a ten-year lifetime (the minimum baseline for the mission is five years). This was reported by the European Space Agency (ESA) on 29 December.

The analysis shows that less propellant than originally planned is needed to correct Webb’s trajectory toward its final orbit around the second Lagrange point known as L2, a point of gravitational balance on the far side of Earth away from the Sun. Consequently, Webb will have much more than the baseline estimate of propellant – though many factors could ultimately affect Webb’s duration of operation.

The accuracy of the launch trajectory had another result: the timing of the solar array deployment. That deployment was executed automatically after separation from the Ariane 5 based on a stored command to deploy either when Webb reached a certain attitude toward the Sun, ideal for capturing sunlight to power the observatory, or automatically at 33 minutes after launch.

Because Webb was already in the correct attitude after separation from the Ariane second stage, the solar array was able to deploy about a minute and a half after separation, approximately 29 minutes after launch.

With restrictions brought about by the Covid pandemic it was with a heavy heart that we had to postpone our World Congress from 2021 and the next one will now be held in the People’s Republic of China in 2024. Nevertheless, we were able to hold a General Assembly in November 2021 at the time of the International Navigation Congress, INC NAV 2021, in Edinburgh, and you can see on our website the Officers’ Committee duly elected thereat.

I am particularly pleased that we at IAIN maintain our liaison with other kindred organizations such as: the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the International Hydrographic Organization, the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG), the US Positioning, Navigation and Timing Foundation, the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation and the Comité International Radio-Maritime and others. We are able to contribute experts to these forums. This is a valuable capability and at the same time enables us to increase our profile. Long may this continue.

Our contributions to the forums have undoubtedly brought some degree of advancement to the studies of a multitude of topics relative to safety at sea, in the air, in space and on land. This is all to the good of trade, defence and the safety and security of mankind.

During the past year, despite the Covid-19 difficulties we have seen advances in the evolution of the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) and here IMO began a scoping exercise to look into how safe, secure and environmentally sound such craft may be as addressed in IMO documents.

Early in December we noted with glee the report by the European Space Agency (ESA) that Europe’s largest satellite constellation had grown even bigger, following the launch of two more Galileo navigation satellites by Soyuz launcher from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Galileo satellites 27-28 add to an existing 26-satellite constellation in orbit, providing what is claimed to be the world’s most precise satnav positioning to more than 2.3 billion users around the globe.

These are just two of the many advances in navigation science in which our members have been involved over the past year.

Finally, I pay tribute to the efforts of our Members during these difficult times while Covid-19 remains with us. These loyal, reliable, and hard-working people have continued to provide navigation services so essential for the safety of traffic and thus the maintenance of the global economy at the same time preserving the environment and maintaining peace world wide.

The past year has not been easy for us all. Staff of our Members have remained where possible at their normal workplaces in responding to the exigencies of their services particularly with regard to essential maintenance, outages and the tasks required to keep services operational. Such devotion deserves special mention.

As one year ends and another is about to open I take this opportunity, on behalf of the IAIN Officers and our Secretariat, to wish the world wide navigation community a peaceful and joyous Festive Season and a successful 2022.

Professor Krzysztof Czaplewski,

President IAIN

ESA reported on Christmas Day that the James Webb Space Telescope had lifted off on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, at 1320 CET (GMT + 1) its mission to unlock the secrets of the Universe. Following launch and separation from the rocket, Webb’s mission operations centre in Baltimore, USA confirmed Webb deployed its solar array and is in good condition, marking the launch a success.

Incidentally, the telescope’s sunshield measures 21 metres by 14 metres. Stowed inside the rocket for launch, the folded sunshield was packaged in a confined area to accommodate the limited space inside the 5.4-metre diameter rocket fairing which protected Webb during lift-off and on its journey through the atmosphere.

In the coming month, Webb, an international partnership between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), will travel to its destination: the second Lagrange point (L2), where it will study the Universe in infrared.

On 23 December Inmarsat, a world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, confirmed the successful launch the previous day of its first Inmarsat-6 satellite, I-6 F1, by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) from the JAXA Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.

The Inmarsat-6s (I-6) are Inmarsat’s first ever hybrid L- and Ka-band satellites, incorporating increased capacity and new technological advances for ELERA‘s transformational L-band services alongside additional Global Xpress (GX) high-speed broadband capacity.

Adding to an existing global fleet of 14 geostationary satellites they extend Inmarsat’s commitment to mission critical services while enabling a new generation of pioneering technologies to connect and sustain the world.

This launch is the first of seven planned for Inmarsat by 2024 in the company’s fully-funded technology roadmap.

As always, ESA has been at the forefront of science, with several science missions en route to their destinations or being prepared for flight, such as BepiColombo, Solar Orbiter, JUICE and ExoMars, and not least rounding off the year with the impending launch of the James Webb Space Telescope.

Europe’s Copernicus programme continues to be the largest Earth observation system in the world, and ESA is even preparing more Earth observation missions.

In 2021, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet carried out his Alpha mission to the Space Station, and Matthias Maurer began his Cosmic Kiss mission, continuing into 2022.

Watch the ESA 2021 highlights video.

From our Austrian member institute, the Österreichischer Verein für Navigation, we have received word of the latest issue of their regular publication, The Navigation Flashlight. It is published three times a year, currently in its twenty first year of publication and it is in German.

The Navigation Workshop is a biennial event organized and sponsored by the Israel Association for Automatic Control (IAAC). For those not familiar with the association, the IAAC is a non-profit organization congregating a large number of members from Academy and Industry interested in the broad areas of Control and System Theory. For further details and the opportunity to subscribe to the IAAC mailing list, please check the IAAC site.

Following the huge success of previous events, the 2022 edition has been scheduled for 31 January at the Daniel Hotel, Herzliya.

The workshop is a one day event dedicated to technical talks that range from fundamental research, to applications, to field test results.

It was announced from Montreal on 16 December that the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had appointed Mr Padhraic Kelleher to a one-year renewable term as President of the ICAO Air Navigation Commission (ANC), the UN civil aviation organization’s main technical review body.

Mr. Kelleher’s mandate begins on 1 January 2022. As President of the ANC, he will lead the Commission’s work on the development of ICAO’s global plans for safety and for air navigation capacity and efficiency as well as the Standards and Recommended Practices annexed to the Chicago Convention. The management of the ANC’s preparations for ICAO’s 2022 Assembly will also be among his first key responsibilities.

At the European Space Agency (ESA) on 17 December readers were invited to view the Year in Images 2021, the year through the lens with a selection of twenty-four of ESA’s favourite images for the year.

One of them, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission on 30 September, shows the flow of lava from the volcano erupting on the Spanish island of La Palma. The cascade of lava can be seen spilling into the Atlantic Ocean, extending the size of the coastline. This ‘lava delta’ covered about 20 hectares when the image was taken.

This Sentinel-2 image has been processed in true colour, using the shortwave infrared channel to highlight the lava flow. The Sentinel-2 mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites, each carrying an innovative wide swath high-resolution multispectral imager with 13 spectral bands for monitoring changes in Earth’s land and vegetation.

This paperback title was first published in 1994 by John Murray and by Pen & Sword Maritime no fewer than seven times from 2007 to this year, an amazing record for a subject that is still being studied in depth along with the many maritime aspects of both World Wars and where the current publisher keeps this broad topic very much alive.

In the preface, Woodman draws attention to the problems of navigating in the polar seas: ‘A magnetic compass forsakes the familiar, comforting horizontal plane expected of it, and tries to dip down towards the vast mass of iron which forms the earth’s magnetic pole. The normally more precise and less variable gyro compass does the opposite and, in seeking a polar star, tilts upwards. Even the projection of the chart is different from that used elsewhere on the earth’s surface. Atmospheric depressions cause overcast, and mist, fog, and ice brume obscure the horizon, depriving the navigator of the use of his sextant, almanac and chronometer. Often ships ran on dead reckoning, or DR, an amalgam of course, speed and an assumed distance, with estimated values for leeway thrown in for good measure, a mixture of inspiration and guesswork over which no two navigators ever agree. Frequently ships, whether naval or merchantman, simply got lost, particularly those separated from a convoy or proceeding alone’

It was reported from Honolulu early in December that the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Juniper (WLB 201) had concluded a successful week-long aids to navigation maintenance and discrepancy response operation throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

During the 848-nautical mile patrol, the crew of the 225-foot seagoing buoy tender completed 21 buoy evolutions, recovered two sinking buoys, and hauled a beached buoy from the shores of Kahului with assistance from a Coast Guard Station Maui boat crew.

This aids to navigation mission provided the needed infrastructure to ensure a maritime transportation system that promotes economic prosperity and an uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce throughout the Pacific.

A message from the UN Secretary General His Excellency António Guterres: ‘On International Civil Aviation Day, we recognize the many contributions of air travel to our world – from connecting societies and delivering vital goods to supporting millions of livelihoods and contributing billions to the global economy. Covid-19 continues to put deep stresses on international aviation, even as increased vaccination rates and testing protocols make air travel possible again. Countries pledged recently to enhance cooperation and risk management, under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).’