About OSLA
The Ocean Services Leadership Association (OSLA) is a confidential forum for senior professionals in maritime safety, hydrography, coastal engineering, and oceanographic science. Based in Valletta, Malta, OSLA connects experts from port authorities, defense institutions, marine contractors, and research bodies, especially in regions where maritime operations transcend national borders.
Founded in 2014, OSLA facilitates peer consultation, professional networking, and the harmonization of standards through discreet exchanges among qualified organizations. OSLA operates with no public-facing presence, reflecting the sensitive nature of its members' work.
Our Activities
- Annual closed-door leadership summits hosted in strategic maritime hubs
- Informal roundtables on inter-port coordination and data sharing
- Collaborative development of best-practice standards in hydrographic surveying
- Support for pilot projects in oceanographic instrumentation and maritime resilience
- Confidential working groups on cross-border incident protocols
Strategic Impact
Through quiet diplomacy and professional rapport, OSLA enhances coordination among diverse maritime actors. The association's impact includes:
- Facilitating alignment of hydrographic practices across critical sea lanes
- Contributing to operational resilience in climate-exposed regions
- Providing advisory insights to academic, private, and government stakeholders
- Maintaining professional standards where formal governance is absent
Voices from the Field
"The ability to speak frankly, off the record, with counterparts from other nations is invaluable in our line of work." — Coastal Security Liaison, Northern Europe
"OSLA allows us to compare field standards, not policies—exactly what we need to get operations aligned." — Hydrographer, Mediterranean Port Authority
"For small nations with large coastlines, OSLA is the invisible bridge to international best practice." — Marine Survey Director, Island State Member
Contact
Email: osla.secretariat@oslaassociation.com
Website: www.oslaassociation.com
Location: Valletta, Malta