• Mumbai as the host of this global event reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening global maritime cooperation and promoting international standards in navigation, safety and sustainability.

• What? The 3rd session of the Council of IALA
• Held in: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Inaugurated by: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, MoPSW
• Organised by: DGLL, MoPSW
• Key Launch: Digital Ticketing Portal for Lighthouse Tourism (across 75 lighthouse destinations)

About 3rd IALA Council Session:
Organiser: The 3rd session of the Council of IALA, held from December 08 to December 12, 2025, was organised by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) which works under MoPSW.
Key Participants: The session brought together 42 IALA Council members, 3 Affiliated Industrial Members Group (AIMG) members, 11 observers, IALA Secretariat delegates and representatives from over 30 countries.
Key Launch: During the inaugural session, Union Minister Sonowal launched the Digital Ticketing Portal for Lighthouse Tourism, aimed to enhance transparency, ease of access and improved convenience for visitors across 75 lighthouse destinations.
Solar Power Milestone: All 193 Indian lighthouses now fully solar-powered, reducing carbon footprint and operational costs by 40%.
Maritime Heritage Showcase: Highlighted National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat – world’s first Lighthouse Museum tracing 5,000-year maritime history from Harappan civilization.
Key Focus Areas in Maritime Sector: The Union Minister emphasised reforms under Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, focusing on port infrastructure development, shipbuilding support, green shipping, digital transformation, and strengthening Aids to Navigation (AtoN) systems and capacity-building for developing maritime nations.
About International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA):
IALA was established in 1957 as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) named the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. It transitioned into an Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO) in August 2024 following ratification by 34 states, and adopted its current name.
Secretary-General- Francis Zachariae (Denmark)
Headquarters- St Germain en Laye, France