Abu Dhabi-UAE: January 21, 2017 – Abu Dhabi Ports, one of nine organisations to offer certified courses by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation & Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) worldwide, has conducted the IALA Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Level-2 training course to the first group of external trainees from entities that provide maritime and offshore services in the UAE.

The training course is based on IALA Level-2 Model Courses, the highest internationally accredited navigational standard, and was delivered to seven employees from the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA) and Abu Dhabi Petroleum Ports Operating Company (IRSHAD) by Abu Dhabi Marine Services (SAFEEN), an operating unit of Abu Dhabi Ports.

Captain Maktoum Al Houqani, Chief Marine Services Officer at Abu Dhabi Marine Services ‘Safeen’, the marine services subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “Abu Dhabi Ports continues to make strong strides not only as the preferred provider of world-class ports and industrial zones services, but also as a vital contributor to the development of the local maritime industry through exclusively delivering internationally recognised training courses. We are dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of the industry by nurturing and developing the skills of our local talent and becoming the first IALA-accredited organisation in the UAE, and the ninth worldwide, to offer IALA training courses is testament to our commitment.”

The training assimilation was evaluated via written and oral examinations conducted by IALA accredited instructor, Captain AbdulAziz Al Hammadi, Senior Navigation Service Manager at SAFEEN. 

The IALA AtoN training course provides participants with the necessary knowledge and skills of how to install, service and maintain marine Aids to Navigation components alongside an introduction to Vessel Tracking Services.

IALA is an 80-member country organisation representing navigation services and interests worldwide. It publishes module courses for AtoN training where Level-1 is designed for management, and Level-2 is designed for technicians.