The Middle East Navigation Aids Service (MENAS) has successfully delivered the first fully accredited IALA Level 2 training course in the MENA region. Held in Bahrain from 13 to 29 May 2025, the course marks a major milestone for technical capacity building in maritime safety, bringing together 16 participants from Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco.
The three-week programme, delivered in collaboration with the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) and Trinity House, blended two weeks of online theory with one week of hands-on training at the MENAS base in Bahrain.
The course was conducted in English with Arabic language support and complemented by a comprehensive bilingual technical manual developed specifically by MENAS for the training.
“Delivering this course in the MENA region for the first time is not only a proud achievement for MENAS but a strategic investment in the future of regional maritime safety,” said Mahdi Al-Mousawi, MENAS General Manager. “By localizing access to internationally accredited training, we’re helping to empower a new generation of AtoN experts who will safeguard our seas, ports, and coastal communities for years to come.”
The Level 2 certification is a globally recognized benchmark for technical competence in the design, installation, and maintenance of Aids to Navigation (AtoN). Participants received instruction across 30 modules, aligning with IALA’s rigorous standards for safety and operational excellence.
The course culminated in a formal graduation ceremony at the Gulf Hotel, attended by His Excellency Mr. Bader Hood Al Mahmood, Undersecretary for Bahrain Ports and Maritime Affairs; Guy Mason, IFAN Chairman; Catherine Mulvihill, CEO of IFAN; Vincent Denamur, Dean of the IALA World-Wide Academy; Andreas Nordseth, IFAN Director and senior MENAS representatives.
“The MENAS team represents the highest standard of technical excellence in the field,” said Catherine Mulvihill, CEO of IFAN. “Their deep expertise and dedication are shaping the next generation of AtoN professionals, and I have no doubt that participants will carry this knowledge forward to strengthen maritime safety across the region.”
This Level 2 delivery builds on MENAS’ ongoing investment in bilingual training resources and follows the translation of the Marine Buoyage System into Arabic—an initiative started in 2017 that now forms the backbone of MENAS’ L2 and L3 course materials.
With sights already set on delivering the IALA Level 1 AtoN Manager course in early 2026, MENAS reaffirms its commitment to regional leadership in navigational safety and professional development.