What are the two kinds of buoys?
Inland: can depend on country to country
sea waters: international buoys
Inland buoys can vary by country, while sea buoys follow an international system.
What organization is responsible for buoys and beacons?
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (I.A.L.A)
I.A.L.A establishes rules concerning buoys.
What are the two systems of I.A.L.A?
- I.A.L.A A
Green to starboard side (when going to inland)
map: rest of the world - I.A.L.A B
Red to st (when going to inland
map: north and south america, japan
I.A.L.A A uses green to starboard; I.A.L.A B uses red to starboard.
lateral mark in I.A.L.A A?
- SB hand:
color: green
shape: conical
topmark: green cone point upward - Port hand:
color: red
shape: can
topmark: red can
preferred channel marks?
used to know the preffered channel for farways parts into two farways
* preffered channal to SB:
colour: red with green bandd
shape: can
topmark: red can
* preffered channel to port
colour: green with red band
shape: conical
topmark: green cone point upward
cardinal marks?
- To indicate a point of interest, especially a danger for navigation (wreck, rock, sand bank)
- buoy: black and yellow buoy
north: undur yellow black above FL(12), tpm:
East: blanck with yellow band FL(3), tpm:
south: under black, yellow above FL(6)+LF(1), tpm
west: yellow with black band FL(9), tpm:
Examples include wrecks, rocks, or sandbanks.
isolated danger mark?
- used to indicate danger, can also be indicated by a cardinal mark
- buoy: black with a red band
- topmark: 2 black circles
- light: white light FL(2)
These buoys indicate danger but may not have a top mark.
special marks?
- used to indicate zone of fast-moving vessels, specialities, localisation of cables or pipes, dredging area
- buoy: full yellow
- shape: most of the time round
- topmark: yellow cross
- light: yellow light FL(4)
These marks indicate zones of fast-moving vessels, cables, or dredging areas.
safe water marks?
- used to indicate, most of the time, the middle of a fairway or the biginning of a fairway (safe deep water)
- buoy: vertical red and white stripes
- topmark: red circle
- light: veryslow character: isophase or morse code (a)
Safe deep water is typically indicated.
emergency wreck marking buoy?
- used to indicate a new wreck that isn’t marked on charts, can be a very dangerous mark
- buoy: vertical blue and yellow stripes
- topmarks: yellow corss +
These buoys are crucial for navigation safety.
What does the term ‘occulting’ refer to in buoy lights?
off time is less then on time
This is one type of light pattern used on buoys.
What does ‘isophase’ mean regarding buoy lights?
rapid flasing on/off
equal period
This describes another type of light pattern.
Racon ‘M’?
What does a racon
- Racons (radar beacons) are navigational aids that respond to incoming radar signals by transmitting a coded reply—usually in Morse code.
- This reply appears as a distinctive mark near the center of the radar screen, to see racon’s exact position.
- Racons are also marked on nautical charts for reference.
What does a Racon ‘D’ indicate?
A character in Morse alphabet on radar
It helps in identifying markers on radar screens.
direction of buoyage?
direction of buoyage is shown on the chart by written arrow. some times you can also have colour for each side of the arrow
Shown by arrows on charts.
