Buoyage

1
Buoyage

• Paul Brown

• Coming up
• A brief introduction to buoyage
• The different types of marks and their usage
• Distinguishing marks by day and night

2
IALA Regions

• World split into 2 regions IALA A (most of the
  world) and IALA B (Americas, Japan,
• Korea, Philippines)
• Few differences between these systems, the most
  striking being the
• Direction of Buoyage
• Marks distinguished by Shape, Colour, Light,
  Topmark

3
Lateral Marks
Used to show well established channels,
indicating the port and starboard sides of the
channel

• Port Mark
• Always red
• Can-shaped topmark
• Red flashing light

• Starboard Mark
• Always green
• Cone-shaped topmark
• Green flashing light

4
Safe Water Mark
Isolated Danger Mark

• The water all around is free from
• obstruction or shallows
• Single red sphere topmark
• Calm, white light
• Vertical stripes safe!

• Marks an isolated danger, such
• as an old anchor, a large rock
• Water around the mark should be
• safe, but do not pass too close
• 2 black spheres for topmark
• White light showing group of 2 flashes
• Horizontal stripes danger!

5
Cardinal Marks
6
Cardinal Marks (2)

• Named after the cardinal points of the compass
• Each mark has different topmark, stripe and light
  pattern
• Light patterns as per hours of the clock(12, 3,
  6, 9)
• All lights flash white, quick or very quick
• South Cardinal has long flash at end to avoid
  confusion
• Cardinals might be used to indicate split in
  channel, end of a bank/shoal, large wreck or
  submerged object

7
Special Mark

• Indicates special area e.g. wreck, sewage pipe
• Mark is yellow in colour
• Single yellow cross topmark
• Light is yellow, any rhythm other than those
  used for cardinal, isolated danger or safe water
  marks

8
Summary

• Lateral Marks
• Used to indicate established channels
• Starboard green colour cone shaped green
  light
• Port red colour can shaped red light
• Safe Water Mark
• Shows that water all around in clear from
  obstruction
• Red and white vertical stripes red sphere top
  mark long white flash / 10s
• Isolated Danger Mark
• Indicates an isolated danger that has clear
  water all around
• Black and red horizontal stripes 2 black
  spheres topmark white flash groups of 2
• Special Mark
• Indicates special area, could be cable or
  pipelines, wreck

9
Questions?

• Further Reading
• The RYA Powerboat Handbook Paul Glatzel
• The Ocean Navigation Guide Tim Bartlett
• The Day Skipper Tom Cunliffe