Strategic Training to Enhance Maritime Risk Assessment
In April 2025, the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) supported a four-day IALA Risk Management Toolbox Workshop in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, aimed at improving maritime safety and enhancing the protection of the marine environment in the Canary Islands—a region designated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA).
In collaboration with Puertos del Estado, the Autoridad Portuaria de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA), this initiative marked the first-ever risk assessment focused on a PSSA.
What is a PSSA?
Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas are marine zones recognized by the IMO as requiring special protection due to their ecological, socio-economic, or scientific significance and their vulnerability to damage from international shipping.
The Canary Islands qualify has been declared a PSSA because of their unique combination of biodiversity, economic reliance on tourism and fisheries, and their exposure to heavy maritime traffic.
A First Step in a Wider Partnership for the Canary Islands PSSA
The workshop kicked off the implementation of a wider project by IFAN and Spain’s Puertos del Estado, aimed at identifying the current and future needs for safety of navigation systems including aids to navigation (AtoN), and enhancing capacities to establish, operate and maintain AtoN in the Canary Islands PSSA.
By doing so, IFAN and Puertos del Estado seek to actively support economic development, shipping and trade in the Canary Islands through safer maritime routes, managed in accordance with international instruments and best practices, and contribute to protect the unique marine environment of the area
The IALA Workshop Explained
During the four-day workshop, participants were introduced to IALA’s Risk Management Toolbox through hands-on training in the SIRA (Simplified IALA Risk Assessment) and IWRAP (IALA Waterway Risk Assessment Program) tools. They applied these methodologies to a real-world case study in the Canary Islands, learning to identify, assess, and model maritime risks in a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area.
Through collaborative group work, the workshop required participants to develop risk scenarios and present their findings, strengthening both individual skills and regional capacities to manage navigational safety and marine protection efforts using internationally recognized tools. A technical visit to the Correíllo La Palma complemented the experience, connecting the training to the region’s diverse and complex maritime context.
Empowering Local Professionals with the IALA Toolbox
The workshop equipped maritime professionals from across Spain with practical tools to assess and reduce navigational risks using IALA’s recognized risk management methodologies.
“At IFAN, we see risk management as a key foundation of maritime safety. Supporting this workshop in the Canary Islands reflects our commitment to equipping authorities with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed, locally led decisions that protect lives, livelihoods, and marine ecosystems,” said Catherine Mulvihill, IFAN CEO.
Building Capacity to Protect Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas
Participants gained hands-on experience and formed a growing network of maritime safety professionals in the region, ensuring Spanish authorities have access to more comprehensive local expertise and technical capacities to complete the Canary Islands’ full maritime risk assessment.
“This is essential technical training not only for safer shipping, but for the long-term resilience of marine ecosystems and the communities who depend on the ocean,” added Francesca Pradelli, IFAN’s Development Officer.
Fostering a Community of Maritime Safety Champions
Beyond technical capacity-building, the workshop played a key role in cultivating a professional community dedicated to maritime safety. As the training progressed, participants not only gained practical risk management skills but also formed a collaborative network—one that is expected to continue exchanging knowledge and strengthening maritime safety long after the workshop’s conclusion.
Collaborate with IFAN on Aids to Navigation, Marine Safety and Protection of the Marine Environment
IFAN continues to support global efforts to enhance AtoNs governance, especially in PSSAs and high-risk coastal zones. Authorities and organizations interested in maritime safety collaboration are invited to contact IFAN through LinkedIn or via our contact form.
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About IFAN:
The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing maritime safety, protecting marine ecosystems, and strengthening global navigation capabilities. IFAN ensures safer and more efficient shipping routes while minimizing environmental risks by supporting projects focused on enhancing Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) frameworks, developing technical expertise, and providing AtoN infrastructure. Through strategic partnerships, funding, and technical expertise, IFAN plays a pivotal role in securing safe, sustainable global waterways and safeguarding the world’s ocean for future generations.