THE IMPORTANCE OF MARITIME SIGNALING AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

Nowadays, in a globalized world, maritime routes have become the main character in maritime trade, which has increased exponentially, presenting great challenges to countries.

The Chilean State, through the Navy, has always maintained an important presence in national activities, not only in defense, but also in the maritime field, exercising part of its capabilities in ocean surveillance and a constant concern for having an extensive network of aids to navigation.

Today, our country exercises the Maritime Authority through a wide organizational structure under its national legal framework, where the General Directorate of Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (DIRECTEMAR) is established as the highest authority, and its continuity immediately falls on the Maritime Governorates and Port Captaincies, located along the country.

One of the main functions of the Chilean Navy is to ensure the safety of maritime, river and lake navigation. Taking into account that our country has an extensive coastline, it has incorporated in its coasts and shallows an important network of aids to navigation through the Maritime Signaling that supports and provides security to all major and minor vessels that navigate in the Territorial Sea.

Under this concept, Chile adopts the recommendations delivered by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), an international non-profit technical association, which brings together navigation aids authorities, manufacturers, consultants and scientific and training institutes from all over the world. This association interacts with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the safety and security of navigation and the prevention of sea pollution by ships.

Both organizations (IALA and IMO) have worked together with other international organizations in the continuous improvement and standardization of aids to maritime navigation. It is worth mentioning that, in 1961, IALA was one of the first NGOs to be granted consultative status at IMO, becoming a major contributor in the field of safety and efficiency of navigation with the assistance of technical expertise for several devices. In addition, it is also important to mention some IALA projects that are led by IMO such as:

• The development of the Automatic Identification System (AIS), differential GPS system, Maritime Beaconing System and guidance on Vessel Traffic Services.
• The participation of women seafarers in courses provided by Accredited Training Organizations around the world in cooperation with the IALA Academy, being an instance to provide specific training for women at sea, facilitating access to high-level technical training in the maritime sector, generating professional development opportunities in maritime administrations, ports and maritime training institutes.