The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN) and the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF) are joining forces to promote safer, more sustainable boating through the Navigate with Care: Protect Our Oceans campaign. This collaboration, born from a discussion fostered by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’s Foundations Dialogue, highlights the power of joint efforts in ocean conservation.
Why It Matters:
Every year, vessels around the world inadvertently damage fragile marine ecosystems, often due to a lack of awareness or inadequate navigational planning. Groundings, propeller scarring, and improper anchoring harm coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds—critical for ocean health. The Navigate with Care campaign will address these threats by educating mariners on safe navigation, Aids to Navigation (AtoNs), and best practices to minimize environmental damage while enhancing safety at sea.
“At IFAN, our mission is to ensure safe navigation while also preserving the marine environment,” said Catherine Mulvihill, CEO of IFAN. “By working alongside the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, we are helping to raise awareness of how updated navigational charts, knowledge of collision regulations, and proper route planning can not only protect mariners but also ensure the long-term health of marine ecosystems.”
“This campaign is a direct outcome of the Foundations Dialogue, and we are excited to see it come to life,” said Alexandra Dempsey, CEO of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. “It’s not just about navigation safety—it’s about fostering a culture of ocean stewardship. By helping mariners understand their impact on the marine environment, we can work toward healthier oceans for generations to come. “
What to Expect:
The campaign will provide mariners with practical resources, including guidelines for safe navigation, educational materials on AtoNs, and tips for avoiding sensitive marine areas. Updates will be available through IFAN and KSLOF’s websites, newsletters, and social media.
Stay tuned for the official launch and join us in protecting our oceans—one safe voyage at a time.
Navigate with Care: Protect Our Oceans
Navigate with Care is a joint campaign by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation and the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation. It promotes safe and environmentally responsible navigation practices that protect both people and marine life. Learn more: www.lof.org/navigate-with-care/.
About the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (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 providing and maintaining Aids to Navigation (AtoNs), supporting regional operations, and delivering specialized training. Through strategic partnerships, funding, and technical expertise, IFAN plays a pivotal role in securing safe, sustainable global waterways and safeguarding the world’s oceans for future generations.
To learn more or inquire about funding opportunities, visit www.ifan-maritime.org.
About the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF):
The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the health of the world’s oceans. Through science, outreach, and education, the Foundation works to conserve coral reefs and other tropical marine ecosystems, enhance ocean literacy, and inspire conservation action. As part of its commitment to Science Without Borders®, the Foundation provides educational resources and programs to empower people worldwide to protect our living oceans for future generations.
Learn more at www.livingoceansfoundation.org.
About the UN Ocean Decade:
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyze new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.
Learn more at www.oceandecade.org
