Welcome to IFAN

Welcome to the website of the only independent lighthouse authority in the world. The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) is a registered UK charitable company headquartered in London (UK), with an operating division based in the Middle East Gulf, the Middle East Navigation Aids Service (MENAS). IFAN’s objectives are the promotion of safety at sea and the promotion of the marine environment in the Middle East and worldwide by all charitable means including directly or indirectly by providing and maintaining navigation aids, safety systems and safety information; promoting the use of modern navigation techniques and procedures and other essential maritime skills; and protecting and improving all aspects of the marine environment.

IFAN fulfils its objectives through funding of activities worldwide. IFAN and MENAS’s history began in 1911 and we have come a long way since those early days of the Persian Gulf Lighting Service. Hopefully, you will see the current activities carried out by IFAN, and our branch, MENAS, and discover our unique place in the world of maritime navigation.

To find out more about IFAN’s funding eligibility criteria and submit project proposals, please click here.

Supporting the maritime community

IFAN fulfils its objectives by funding global activities related to the promotion of safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment. The support that IFAN provides to the global maritime community is centred around three main areas: Safety and Environment, MENAS activity and Capability Enhancement. A list of past and currently funded activities can be found by clicking the link here.

Funding the future of maritime safety and environmental protection

IFAN is open to consider new activities to support the maritime community which are in line with its objectives. If you wish to submit a funding proposal, please use IFAN’s project proposal form by clicking the link here.

Should you have any questions, please contact us.

 

Safety and Environment

Enhancing maritime safety and protecting the marine environment through the provision of international standard Aids to Navigation (AtoN) is the core to IFAN’s mission.

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MENAS

MENAS is IFAN’s operating branch in the Middle Eastern Gulf. The operation of 54 Aids to Navigation assets and marine safety information for the region are coordinated from MENAS’s base in Bahrain.

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Capability Enhancement

Twinned with the provision of Aids to Navigation (AtoN) is the use, operation, and provision of capability enhancement through training and education. IFAN ensures that global standards are followed.

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Latest News

Francesca Pradelli IFAN launches Navigate with Care campaign in Nice during Ocean Decade forum, Francesca stands behind podium to speak

Navigate with Care: A New Campaign Promotes Safer Seas and a Healthier Ocean

Nice, France – 11 June 2025 Today at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF) and the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) proudly launched Navigate with Care: Protect Our Oceans, a joint campaign that promotes safe and environmentally responsible boating practices. Unveiled by IFAN’s Development Manager Francesca Pradelli during the Ocean […]
Captura de tela 2025 06 10 200050

IFAN Helps Launch Ocean Matcher: A New AI-Powered Platform to Fund Ocean Innovation

Nice, France – 10 June 2025 The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) proudly joined fellow ocean leaders in launching Ocean Matcher, a revolutionary AI-powered platform unveiled today at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice. Designed to transform how ocean science and sustainability projects are funded, the platform marks a major milestone […]
capraia island

IFAN Advances Maritime Safety and Island Resilience at Capraia Smart Island 2025

The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) joined policymakers, researchers, and island leaders at Capraia Smart Island 2025 (20-22 May 2025, Capraia Island, Italy), a flagship event focused on sustainable development and climate resilience for small Mediterranean islands. The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) joined policymakers, researchers, and island leaders at Capraia […]

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