From 3 to 7 November 2025, MSM Academy, in collaboration with the Hydrographic, Oceanographic and Aids to Navigation Service of the Navy of the Dominican Republic, delivered an in-person theoretical and practical course with IALA Level 2 International Certification. The training was designed to strengthen technical capacities in Aids to Navigation (AtoN) across Latin America.
The course took place at the Vice Admiral Manuel Ramón Montes Arache Marine Infantry Naval Base in Boca Chica (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and brought together participants from Mexico, Chile, Panama, Ecuador, as well as members of the Navy of the Dominican Republic. It consolidated itself as an international meeting point for specialised AtoN training in the Spanish-speaking world.
A training programme aligned with IALA WWA international standards
The course covered elements of Modules 1 and 3 of the IALA Level 2 training framework, including, among others:
- IALA Maritime Buoyage System
- Plastic buoys: features, maintenance and safe working procedures
- Buoy mooring and recovery operations
- Marine lights and lanterns: visibility and light range concepts
- Use of IALA solar calculation tools
The programme combined theoretical sessions with field practice. One of the most remarkable activities was the mooring of an elastomer buoy in Boca Chica Port, where attendees applied their newly acquired knowledge in a real operational environment.
The MSM Academy delegation travelling to the country was composed of:
- Ignacio Rodríguez, Technical Director and Co-founder
- Mónica Herrero, Chief Operations Officer and Head of MSM Academy
- José Andrés, Product Manager
The course was held in the presence of Commander, Director of the Hydrographic, Oceanographic and Aids to Navigation Service of the Dominican Republic Navy, Primitivo López. The Commander General of the Dominican Republic Navy, Vice Admiral Juan B. Crisóstomo Martínez, highlighted “the importance of strengthening the sustainable management and safety of the national maritime environment,” underlining the relevance of international cooperation for the development of technical capacities in AtoN.
Boosting technical training in Latin America
The objectives of the course addressed the need to reinforce the technical capacity of AtoN managers to carry out safe and efficient operations, as well as to promote specialised training based on IALA WWA standards in Spanish, contributing to professional development in the region.
This training initiative reaffirms MSM Academy’s commitment to the dissemination of technical knowledge and the continuous improvement of Aids to Navigation operations at an international level.
