The States Parties to this Agreement,
Recognizing that the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities was established on July 1, 1957, and was renamed the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities in 1998.
Acknowledging the role played by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities in continuously improving and harmonizing marine navigational aids to ensure safe, economical, and efficient movement of vessels for the benefit of the maritime community and the protection of the environment.
Taking into account the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, as amended.
Also taking into account that the coordination regarding the preparation, improvement, and harmonization of marine navigational aids for the benefit of the maritime community and the protection of the environment is carried out by international organizations with greater competencies.
Have agreed as follows:

• 1- An International Organization for Maritime Navigation Assistance (hereinafter referred to as the "Organization") is established under international law by this Agreement as an intergovernmental organization.

• 2- The Organization shall have an advisory and technical nature.

• 3- The headquarters of the Organization shall be in France, unless the General Assembly decides otherwise.

• 4- The operational procedures of the Organization are detailed in its General Regulation, which is subject to the provisions of this Agreement, although it does not form part of it. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and the General Regulation or any other foundational document regarding the governance of the Organization, this Agreement shall prevail.

• For the purposes of this Agreement:

  • 1- The term "marine navigation aids" refers to a device, system, or service outside the vessel designed and used to enhance the safety and effectiveness of individual ship navigation, as well as maritime traffic.

  • For the purposes of the organization, this definition includes maritime traffic services.

  • 2- The term "Member State" refers to any state that has agreed to be bound by this Agreement and to which this Agreement applies.

  • 3- The term "Associate Member" refers to a territory or group of territories for which a Member State is responsible for its foreign relations and has applied for membership, which has been approved by the General Assembly, and the national members of the International Association of Marine Navigation Aids and Lighthouse Authorities from non-member states, in accordance with paragraph 5 of the Appurtenance.

  • 4- The term "Participating Member" refers to a manufacturer or distributor of marine navigation aids for the purpose of sale, and any organization providing marine navigation aids services or technical advice in this field under a contract, and any other scientific organization or body concerned with marine navigation aids that has applied for membership and has been approved by the Council.

• The purpose of the organization is to mobilize governments and organizations concerned with the regulation, provision, maintenance, or operation of maritime navigation aids in order to promote the following objectives:

  • A- To enhance the safety and efficiency of ship movements by improving maritime navigation aids and aligning them globally for the benefit of the maritime community and the protection of the marine environment.

  • B- To enhance the benefits of technical cooperation and capacity building in all matters related to the development and transfer of scientific knowledge and technology concerning maritime navigation aids.

  • C- To encourage and facilitate the adoption of the highest possible standards regarding maritime navigation aids on a wide scale.

  • D- To enable the exchange of information regarding the matters considered by the organization.

• To achieve the goals and objectives stated in Article (3), the organization's tasks are as follows:

  • A- Preparing and disseminating standards, recommendations, guidelines, booklets, and other non-binding relevant documents.

  • B- Considering the standards, recommendations, guidelines, booklets, and other relevant documents that may be referred to it by member states, associate members, or any specialized agency of the United Nations or any other international governmental organization, and providing recommendations regarding them.

  • C- Establishing mechanisms for consultation and information exchange, particularly regarding the latest developments and activities undertaken by member states, associate members, and participating members.

  • D- Promoting international cooperation by encouraging member states, associate members, and participating members to establish close working relationships and to provide mutual assistance among themselves.

  • E- Facilitating the provision of assistance, whether technical, organizational, or in the field of training, to governments, departments, and other organizations that request assistance in the area of maritime navigation aids.

  • F- Organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, and other events; and

  • G- Communicating with relevant international organizations and other concerned organizations and cooperating with them by providing specialized advice as appropriate.

• 1- The organization consists of member states, associate members, and participating members.

• 2- Any member state responsible for the foreign relations of a region or a group of regions may submit a claim for the status of associate member for that region or group of regions by providing written notice to the General Secretary.

• 3- The Council may impose conditions, and a member state may request consideration of the elements of the claim for obtaining the status of participating member by the member state or states in which the applicant has activities or where it has its principal place of business or registered office. The Council takes into account the opinion of the member state that submits the claim and the opinion of the member state or states that are considering the claim when deciding on the request for the status of participating member.

• 1- The organization's bodies are as follows:

  • A- The General Assembly.

  • B- The Council.

  • C- The committees and subsidiary bodies necessary to support the organization's activities; and

  • D- The Secretariat.

• 2- The organization shall have a President and a Vice President, with the President, or the Vice President in the event of their absence, presiding over the General Assembly and the Council.

• 3- The General Regulation and the Financial Regulation include the procedural rules applicable to each body and govern the daily operations of the organization.

• 1- The General Assembly is the main body for decision-making in the organization and has all the powers of the organization, unless otherwise stipulated in this Agreement.

• 2- The General Assembly consists exclusively of member states. Affiliate members and participating members may also attend its sessions.

• 3- Each member state appoints one of its representatives to be its chief representative in the General Assembly.

• 4- The regular sessions of the General Assembly are held once every three years.

• 5- Extraordinary sessions of the General Assembly are convened when one-third of the member states notify the General Secretary of their desire to hold a session, or at any time if the Council deems it necessary, after a prior notice of 90 days.

• 6- The legal quorum for the sessions of the General Assembly is achieved by a majority of the member states.

• 7- The General Assembly shall do the following:

  • A- Elect the President and Vice President from among the member states in accordance with the General Regulation.

  • B- Approve the general policy of the organization and its strategic vision.

  • C- Review and adopt the General Regulation and the Financial Regulation of the organization.

  • D- Elect members of the Council from among the member states, excluding the member states holding the positions of President and Vice President, in accordance with Article (8).

  • E- Elect the General Secretary from among the nationals of the member states in accordance with the General Regulation.

  • F- Form and dissolve committees and subsidiary bodies, review their mandates, and approve them.

  • G- Review and approve the financial measures of the organization, including the budget plan for the next three years, the rate of contributions from member states, and the subscriptions imposed on affiliate members and participating members.

  • H- Study the reports and proposals submitted by any member state, the Council, or the General Secretary.

  • I- Approve the standards.

  • J- Decide on the acquisition of affiliate member status.

  • K- Decide on the acquisition of participating member status based on the request of one or more member states.

  • ل- Provide recommendations to member states, affiliate members, and participating members regarding matters related to the purpose and objectives of the organization.

  • م- Approve agreements concluded with states and international organizations; and

  • ن- Make decisions on any other matters related to the purpose and objectives of the organization.

• 1- The Council is the executive body of the organization and is responsible for managing its activities.

• 2- The Council consists of the President, the Vice President, and representatives from the other twenty-three member states.

• 3- Members of the Council are elected by ballot at each regular session of the General Assembly in accordance with the General Regulation.

• Members of the Council should, in principle, be from different parts of the world to ensure representation of all geographical regions.

• 4- It is preferred that member states in the Council be represented by a delegate from the national authority responsible for organizing, providing, maintaining, or operating maritime navigation assistance for that member state.

• 5- The legal quorum for Council sessions is seventeen members of the Council, with at least one being the President or the Vice President.

• 6- The Council meets at least once a year.

• 7- Any member state not represented in the Council may participate in Council meetings but may not vote.

• 8- The Council shall do the following:

  • A- Carry out the responsibilities that may be entrusted to it by the General Assembly.

  • B- Coordinate the activities of the organization within the framework of the general policy, strategic vision, and budget plan as determined by the General Assembly.

  • C- Review and approve the financial statements, including the annual budget.

  • D- Decide on the status of the participating member.

  • E- Convene the General Assembly.

  • F- Prepare a report for the General Assembly regarding the organization's activities.

  • G- Review the documents submitted to it in accordance with the General Regulation.

  • H- Refer all matters that the General Assembly must decide on to it.

  • I- Approve recommendations, guidelines, manuals, and other relevant documents.

  • J- Approve communications directed to other organizations.

  • K- Appoint chairs and vice-chairs of committees and subsidiary bodies, and review and approve their work programs.

  • L- Decide the location and year of the organization's conferences and seminars as specified in the General Regulation; and

  • M- Approve the administrative system for the staff.

• 9- Council members, after notifying the President and the General Secretary, may invite participating members to attend Council meetings as technical advisors to provide advice and support on operational and technical matters.

• 1- The committees and subsidiary bodies contribute to achieving the organization's purpose and objectives.

• 2- The committees shall do the following:

  • A- Prepare and review standards, recommendations, guidelines, booklets, and other relevant documents specified in the work programs.

  • B- Monitor developments in the field of maritime navigation aids.

  • C- Facilitate the exchange of experiences and practices among member states, associate members, and participating members; and

  • D- Undertake any other tasks assigned to them by the Council.