Circular Letter 2026/12
2 July 2026
Subject: Call for Proposals for the work programme 2027-2030
To: All Members
Dear Members,
In accordance with the General Regulations, Article 11.8, “Each Committee shall develop and work to
a work programme.”
The Secretariat invites all Members to submit proposals for new tasks to be considered for inclusion in
the work rogramme 2027–2030.
The work programme is the principal mechanism through which the Organization plans and
coordinates its technical activities. It provides a structured framework for the Committees' work,
ensuring that activities align with the strategic vision adopted by the General Assembly and that the
Organization's resources are focused on delivering priority outcomes.
Operating on a three-year cycle, the work programme establishes the objectives, deliverables,
responsibilities, and indicative timelines for the development of standards, recommendations,
guidelines, manuals, model courses, and other technical outputs. The programme also provides the
basis for establishing working groups and task groups to undertake specific work on behalf of the
Committees.
The Secretariat is now commencing the preparation of the next work programme covering the period
2027–2030 and invites proposals for new tasks.
Submission of Task Proposals
Proposed tasks should:
• support the implementation of the strategic vision;
• address identified operational, technical, or policy needs of the Members;
• avoid duplication of existing or ongoing work;
• identify clear and achievable objectives and expected deliverables;
• identify the most appropriate Committee responsible for the work.
Each proposal should be submitted using the attached Task proposal template (Annex A).
The Task proposal example can be found in Annex B.
Review Process
Following receipt of the submissions, the Secretariat will:
• forward the submitted proposals to the relevant Committees for their review and
consideration;
• receive the task proposals endorsed by the respective Committees;
• compile the endorsed proposals into a consolidated draft IALA Work Programme;
• submit the consolidated draft Work Programme to the Policy Advisory Panel (PAP) for
consideration, including the identification of any cross-committee dependencies and
coordination requirements;
• submit the proposed Work Programme through the established process for Council approval.
Submission Deadline
Completed Task Description Templates should be submitted to the Secretariat no later than
04 September 2026 by email to
[email protected].
Additional Information
The current work programme and task register are available through the IALA Task Register website
and may be consulted when preparing new task proposals to ensure consistency with ongoing activities
and to avoid duplication.
Should you require any further information regarding the preparation of task proposals or the work
programme process, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat at
[email protected].
The Secretariat looks forward to receiving your proposals and appreciates your continued contribution
to the development of the Organization’s technical work.
ANNEX A TASK PROPOSAL TEMPLATE
Task Proposal
Committee • VTS (Vessel Traffic Services Committee)
(select one) • DTEC (Digital Technologies Committee)
• ENG (Engineering and Sustainability Committee)
• ARM (Aids to Navigation Requirements and Management Committee)
Working Group • WG1
(select one) • WG2
• WG3
• WG4
Standard • S1010 Marine Aids to Navigation Planning and Service Requirements
(select one) • S1020 Marine Aids to Navigation Design and Delivery
• S1030 Radionavigation Services
• S1040 Vessel Traffic Services
• S1050 Training and Certification
• S1060 Digital Communication Technologies
• S1070 Information Services
Topic Area • S1010.1 Obligations and Regulatory Compliance
(select one) • S1010.2 Aids to Navigation Planning
• S1010.3 Levels of Service (objective, availability and categories)
• S1010.4 Risk Management
• S1010.5 Quality Management
• S1020.1 Aids to Navigation Visual Signalling
• S1020.2 Design, Implementation, and Maintenance
• S1020.3 Floating Aids to Navigation
• S1020.4 Environment and Sustainability
• S1020.5 Power Systems
• S1020.6 Heritage and Culture
• S1030.1 Satellite Positioning and Timing
• S1030.2 Terrestrial Positioning and Timing
• S1030.3 Augmentation Services
Task Proposal
• S1030.4 Racon and Radar Positioning
• S1040.1 VTS Implementation
• S1040.2 VTS Operations
• S1040.3 VTS Communications
• S1040.4 VTS Auditing and Assessing
• S1040.5 VTS Data and Information Management
• S1040.6 VTS Technologies
• S1040.7 VTS Additional Services
• S1050.1 Training and Assessment
• S1050.2 Accreditation, Competency, Certification
• and Revalidation
• S1050.3 Capacity Building
• S1060.1 Wide and Medium Bandwidth Systems
• S1060.2 Narrow Bandwidth Systems
• S1060.3 Harmonised Maritime Connectivity
• S1070.1 Data Models and Data Encoding
• S1070.2 Data Exchange Systems
• S1070.3 Terminology, Symbology and Portrayal
Task (Name of the task)
Objectives of the task
Expected outcome • Recommendation
(select one) • Guideline
• Manual
• Other appropriate paper
Strategic Alignment • O1 – Innovate, improve, and harmonize Marine Aids to Navigation,
(select one or more, constantly reflecting changing technology and system obsolescence,
as applicable) changing user needs, operational imperatives, environmental
sustainability, and best practice.
• O2 – Develop applicable international standards, recommendations, and
guidelines for adoption and use by its members and other relevant
organizations or parties.
• O3 – Offers its members a professional forum to share operational
experiences, new techniques and technologies, and issues of common
interest and concern.
Task Proposal
• O4 – Improve the provision and harmonization of Marine Aids to
Navigation globally, through targeted training, technical cooperation, and
capacity-building initiatives.
Brief and concise
description of the
work to be
undertaken and
programme
milestones
Expected number of
sessions for
completion
ANNEX B TASK PROPOSAL EXAMPLE
Task Proposal
Committee ENG (Engineering and Sustainability Committee)
Working Group WG1
Standard S1020 Marine Aids to Navigation Design and Delivery
Topic Area S1020.2 Design, Implementation, and Maintenance
Task Update G1077 Maintenance of AtoN
Objectives of the task To update IALA Guideline G1077 to provide current guidance on developing
and implementing maintenance strategies for Marine Aids to Navigation,
including the review of supporting information, annexes, and related IALA
publications to ensure consistency across the IALA documentation framework.
Expected outcome Revised Guideline
Strategic Alignment O2 – Develop applicable international standards, recommendations, and
guidelines for adoption and use by its members and other relevant
organizations or parties.
Brief and concise Complete the review and finalisation of IALA Guideline G1077 – Developing a
description of the Maintenance Strategy for Aids to Navigation, including the identification of
work to be appropriate supporting examples and the development of annex material
undertaken and where required. Undertake a review of related IALA documents to ensure that
programme references to G1077 remain accurate and consistent following the publication
milestones of the revised Guideline. Assess and prioritize additional actions identified
during the review of G1077 and determine whether they should be addressed
within the current or a future IALA Work Programme.
Programme milestones:
• Finalise the revised edition of G1077.
• Identify and develop supporting examples and annex material, as
appropriate.
• Review related IALA publications and update references to G1077
where necessary.
• Identify and document any follow-on tasks arising from the review for
consideration in the current or subsequent Work Programme.
Task Proposal
Expected number of 3 sessions
sessions for
completion
Saatja: "IALA Contact" <
[email protected]>
Saaja: "IALA Contact" <
[email protected]>
Teema: CL2026-12 – Call for Proposals for the IALA Work Programme 2027–2030.
Kuupäev: 2026-07-02 13:08
Dear Members,
We are pleased to send you the attached CL2026-12 – Call for Proposals for
the IALA Work Programme 2027–2030.
Best regards,
IALA Secretariat
Tel +33 (0)1 34 51 70 01 – <mailto:
[email protected]>
[email protected]