About IFAN
Promoting safety at sea and the protection of the marine environment
The International Foundation for Aids to Navigation’s (IFAN) is a company and charity headquartered in London, United Kingdom, whose overall objective is the promotion of safety at sea and the protection of the marine environment. IFAN achieves this by contributing to the efforts of several other maritime organisations, through funding of global Aids to Navigation projects and supporting education initiatives.
IFAN’s operating division is the Middle East Navigation Aids Service (MENAS) and is based in the Middle East Gulf. Established over 60 years ago, the once called ‘Persian Gulf Lighting Service’ was created as the responsible authority for aids to navigation in the Arabian Gulf. This structure evolved to become MENAS (Middle East Navigation Aids Service), which continues to be the Gulf region’s leading innovator in the supply and maintenance of Aids to Navigation including Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). In addition, it provides advisory services related to the safe navigation of vessels entering and transiting the Arabian Gulf and its approaches.
The change of name of the parent Company, from MENAS to International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN), was made in 2011 to reflect extended global coverage of safety at sea and Aids to Navigation activities and functions.
Governance
Structure
IFAN is constituted as an English company limited by guarantee and is registered with the UK Charity Commission as a charity. The company has no shareholders and is absolved from taxation in the UK.
IFAN provides its support at the lowest possible cost, by extracting the maximum value from its assets and by effectively managing its costs. The aids to navigation service provided by MENAS throughout the Arabian Gulf is financed by the payment of Nav Dues ( or Light Dues) for vessels making trading voyages into the Gulf. All dues collected are exclusively utilised to cover MENAS’ operating costs and to improve the aids to navigation service in the Gulf region. Moreover, IFAN funds global activities related to safety at sea and protection of the marine environment from income from charitable assets such as retained reserves or funds invested in various securities managed by professional investment managers. IFAN’s policy on funding global activities can be found here.
Catherine Mulvihill (CEO)
Ms Mulvilhill was appointed CEO in October 2023 and is also Company Secretary. Prior to joining IFAN, Catherine spent 20 years with Charles Taylor, latterly as Managing Director for Charles Taylor TPA. Catherine has 40 years of experience across the maritime sector in a wide range of areas including container shipping and operations, ports and terminals, and marine insurance in both mutual management and the London and commercial markets. She has been an FCA-regulated Director of UK companies, is a Court Assistant and Chair of the Education and Charity committee for the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and sits on the Board of Governors of the London Nautical School.
Francesca Pradelli (Development Manager)
Ms Pradelli was appointed Development Manager in September 2022. She holds a master’s degree in Law from the University of Torino (Italy) and is a certified maritime lawyer and project manager. She has a solid experience of both the maritime legal private sector and the international one, thanks to her previous experiences in top Italian maritime law firms and at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, the United Nations Peacekeeping Department (DPKO) – Security Sector Reform Unit (SSR) in New York, and the Pacific Community (SPC) in Fiji.
Board of Directors
IFAN is guided by a non-executive Board of Directors which comprises members representing organisations that are the end-users of navigation aids services, thus with a vested interest in ensuring that the initiatives that IFAN selects for funding assist seaborne world trade and are in line with IFAN’s charitable objectives. IFAN’s Board currently includes representatives of major oil and gas producers, the transporters of these commodities as well as container and bulk operators.
Rear Admiral John Clink CBE (Chairman)
John Clink joined the IFAN Board in September 2025. He is a Royal Navy Specialist Navigator who has commanded at sea from patrol boat to aircraft carrier as well as Coalition Task Force command in the Gulf & Indian Ocean. Since retiring from the Royal Navy in 2018, he was Chief Executive of the Merchant Taylors’ Company operating a medieval banqueting hall, running £100m property and investment portfolios and three charities that supported almshouses, education and improving lives. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation, an alumnus of Windsor Leadership and has a MA in International Security and Strategy.
Captain Yousef Al Sager
Yousef Al Sager was appointed Director in November 2010. He is presently Deputy CEO Fleet Operations KOTC, formerly Manager for Fleet New Building projects and prior to that Manager Fleet Marine Operations. He started his career as Navigation Officer, leading to Master on board KOTC’s VLCC, VLGC and Product tankers. He has served in numerous roles onshore in Fleet Operations, Marine Affairs and Risk Assessment and fleet new building projects. He holds a BSc in Maritime Transport Technology and is a Master Mariner.
Louise Evans
Louise Evans was appointed Director in June 2020. She is currently Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair of AB Dynamics plc and World Rugby and Senior Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair of Gooch & Housego PLC. Ms Evans previously held Group Finance Director roles at Braemar Shipping Services plc and Williams Grand Prix Holdings plc. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant whilst working with Ernst & Young. Ms Evans graduated from the University of Wales with a first-class degree in Management Science and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Captain David Hill
Captain Hill was appointed as a Director in March 2023. He is currently Fleet Manager within Shell Trading & Shipping Company. His sea going career began with the Shell Fleet in 1995 and he has sailed as both Deck and Engineer officer, continuing to the rank of Master on LNG Carriers. Captain Hill has held various roles within Ship Management ashore, including Nautical Operations Lead, Company Security Officer & DPA, Superintendent and roles within Shipping HR & Training. Captain Hill is an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute, and a Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.
Andreas Nordseth
Andreas Nordseth was appointed Director in May 2025. He served as Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority from 2009 to 2024 and was Chairman of the Administrative Board of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and a former Chair of the Consultative Shipping Group. Since October 2025, he has served as Senior Advisor to the Philippine Government on maritime governance. Andreas holds a Shipmaster’s Diploma and has studied Engineering and Naval Architecture at the Technical University of Denmark as well as Public Policy at Roskilde University.
Aslak Ross
Aslak Ross was appointed Director in March 2022. He is currently Head of Safety & Resilience at APM Terminals (part of the APM-Maersk group), and is responsible for all health, safety, security, environmental and business resilience matters for APM Terminals’ global portfolio of port terminals. Mr Ross started his career in Maersk in 1994 as an engineer apprentice and has a degree in Marine Engineering. He has also completed a Master Mariner degree and has previously served as Head of Marine Standards in Maersk Responsible for HSSEQ of the Maersk container ship fleet and acted as DPA.
Captain Iain Scally
Iain Scally was appointed Director in November 2021. He is presently serving as a Marine Advisor to NYK’s Global Tanker Quality Group in Tokyo. Formerly with ExxonMobil for 28 years serving as Master and then a variety of shore-based positions including HSQE, Marine Operations and Shipping Manager within LNG Operations. Captain Scally commenced his seagoing career with Shell in 1970. He is a founding member and Fellow of the Nautical Institute and serves on technical committees within Intertanko and SIGTTO.
Peter Stanley
Peter Stanley was appointed Director in September 2019. He was previously the IFAN CEO from July 2019 to October 2023. Formerly with BP for 30 years working in BP Shipping HSE, Refining Manufacturing and Supply, Chemicals and finally as Head of Control of BP’s Corporate segment. He graduated from Newcastle University obtaining a first-class honours degree in Marine Engineering and has an MBA from the Judge Business School, Cambridge University. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.
Doug Summerhill
Doug Summerhill was appointed Director in November 2020. He is presently Vice President of Chartering for BP Shipping Limited, accountable for the global chartering activity and monetisation of BP’s oil and gas fleet. He is a supply, shipping and trading specialist, having worked in this sector for over 30 years and holds a Bachelor of Business degree from RMIT University, Australia.