'Lighthouse Olympics' open in Incheon

INCHEON, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Hundreds of nautical mark experts from around the world got together Monday in the South Korean port city of Incheon on Monday to discuss new technologies and policy directions for safer waterways. The 19th International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Conference opened under the title "Successful Voyages, Sustainable Planet: A New Era for Marine Aids to Navigation in a Connected World." Some 500 national, industrial and academic members from 69 nations are taking part. South Korea is the third Asian host for the quadrennial meeting, called the "Lighthouse Olympics," after Japan and China. "South Korea will stably provide a high-speed digital communication service on seas as well from the end of next year by developing international standards for digital beacon information sharing in cooperation with the IALA," South Korean Maritime Minister Kim Young-choon said in a welcome speech. The week-long meeting will also adopt the Incheon Declaration to redefine the value of lighthouse heritages and to preserve them. (END)