4. The International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IAIA)
IALA'S Secretariat is located in a suburb of Paris. It is an international association whose objectives are ensuring the safety of maritime traffic and promoting economical and fast shipping service, through the improvement, coordination, etc., of aids to navigation and maritime traffic control operations. While maintaining close liaison with IMO, IHO, and other international organizations involved in maritime affairs, it carries out exchanges of information and materials related to aids to navigation, promotes the standardization of systems for aids to navigation, and endeavors to improve the technology of member countries.
JMSA has served as an IALA councilor since 1975. Along with participating in the planning of the association's management, it sends experts to participate as members of the Operations Committee, Engineering Committee, Radionavigation Committee, and VTS Committee. Japan, as a technologically advanced country, cooperates in improving technology in the field of navigational aids.
5. International Astronomical Union (IAU)
IAU is an international organization that determines policy, etc., related to astronomical activities, such as the specifications for the various astronomical almanacs. Its Secretariat is located in a suburb of Paris.
JMSA conducts astronomical observations through international cooperation and publishes the "Japanese Ephemeris." To improve the accuracy of astronomical almanacs, upon the request of the IAU, since FY 1981, it has taken over the operations of the International Lunar Occultation Centre (ILOC) from the Greenwich Observatory. In addition, since FY 1992, it has taken over the responsibility of providing forecasts of lunar occultation observations from the U.S. Naval Observatory.
In FY 1995, the Agency analyzed, processed, and compiled into standardized data approximately 11,000 records of lunar occultation observations sent from 28 countries, and then reported these data to the IAU, the observation enactments of other countries, and other concerned enactments.
IOC is an organ of UNESCO. Through the joint activities of member nations, it works to increase knowledge related to oceanographic natural phenomena and resources. It does this by carrying out projects such as various international oceanographic surveys and research, monitoring marine pollution, exchanging oceanographic data, and education, training, and mutual aid.
JMSA's Japan Oceanographic Data Center operates as the IOC Depository Center for
