Buoyage Flashcards
IALA
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities.
A standardised buoyage system used worldwide.
IALA A - Countries
Remainder of world
Europe
Australia
New Zealand
Africa
Persian Gulf
and most Asian States
IALA B - Countries
North America
South America
Japan
South Korea
the Philippines
What are the IALA Systems made up of?
SIX TYPES OF BUOYS
- LATERAL marks indicate edge of channel.
- CARDINAL marks indicate the direction of safe water at a dangerous spot.
- SAFE WATER marks indicates deep water open end of a a channel and safest point to pass under a bridge.
- SPECIAL marks indicate a special area / feature e.g. CROFTS
- ISOLATED DANGER marks indicate a hazard to shipping.
- EMERGENCY WRECK mark: introduced in 2006.
Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy
Identification:
Use: Designed to provide high visual and radio aid to navigation recognition. Placed as close to the wreck as possible, or in a pattern around the wreck, and within any other marks that may be subsequently deployed.
Buoy is maintained in position until:
- the wreck is well known and has been promulgated in nautical publications.
- The wreck has been fully surveyed and exact details are known such as position and depth above the wreck.
- A permanent form of marking of the wreck has been carried out.
Colour: Blue and yellow vertical stripes (min 4, max 8)
Shape: Pillar / Spar
Top Mark: Standing Yellow Cross
Light Colour + Sequence:
-Alternating blue and yellow occulting light, blue and yellow 1 second flashes are alternated with an interval of 0.5 seconds.
-nominal range of 4 NM
- use of racon morse D ( 1 long, 2 short. DAHH DIT DIT_..) ) and/or AIS transponder.
Upon finding this buoy: STOP the vessel, call the master. Consult the chart.
What led to the creation of the Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy?
The sinking of M/V TRICOLOR in the Dover Strait in 2002 and subsequent carnage led to the creation of this buoy.
Safe Water Mark
USE:
-Indicates navigable water all round the mark.
-Indicates centre line
-Mid channel or Land fall buoy.
-Indicate best point of passage under a fixed bridge.
COLOUR: Red + White vertical stripes
SHAPE: Sphere / Pillar / Spar
TOP MARK: Red Sphere (if the buoy is not spherical)
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE:
WHITE light
- Occulting (Oc)
- Isophase (Iso)
- 1 long flash / 10 s (LFl. 10s)
- Morse A ( . - ) 1 short, 1 long
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE:
Red + White bands
vertical / horizontal
Isolated Danger Mark
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: Placed on or above an isolated danger with navigable water all around it.
COLOUR: Black w/ one or more red bands
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar.
TOP MARK: Two black Spheres
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE:
White light
Group flashing 2 …GP. Fl. (2)
- “fuck off”
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE:
two horizontal lines
Blue OVER Red.
Consult the chart and THEN pass it by as wider margin as possible.
Starboard Hand Lateral Marker, IALA B
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicates limit of channel
COLOUR: Red
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar / CONE
TOP MARK: red cone apex pointing up.
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: red flashing light of any rhythm other than composite group flashing (2+1)
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: red band or triangle
Starboard hand lateral mark IALA A
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicates limit of channel
COLOUR: Green
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar / CONE
TOP MARK: Green cone apex pointing up
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: green flashing light of any rhythm other than composite group flashing (2+1)
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: green band or triangle
Port hand lateral mark IALA B
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicates limit of channel
COLOUR: green
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar / CAN
TOP MARK: Green can
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: green flashing light of any rhythm other than composite group flashing (2+1)
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: green band or square.
IALA B Starboard hand lateral mark preferred channel to PORT.
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicate preferred channel to port
COLOUR: red w/ 1 broad green band
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar / CONE
TOP MARK: red cone apex pointing up
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: red light, composite group flashing (2+1)
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: red band or triangle
IALA B, Port hand lateral mark - Preferred channel to starboard
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicates preferred channel to starboard
COLOUR: green w/ one broad Red band
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar / CAN
TOP MARK: green can
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: green light, composite group flashing (2+1)
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: Green band or square.
IALA A Starboard hand lateral mark. Preferred channel to Port
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicated preferred channel to port
COLOUR: Green w/ 1 broad RED band
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar / CONE
TOP MARK: green cone apex pointing up
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: green light, composite group flashing (2+1)
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: green triangle
IALA A Port hand lateral mark. Preferred channel to Starboard
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicated preferred channel to starboard
COLOUR: red w/ 1 broad GREEN band
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar / CAN
TOP MARK: Red can
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: red light, composite group flashing (2+1)
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: red band or square.
North Cardinal Mark
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicate safe water to the north of the mark.
COLOUR: BLACK YELLOW
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar
TOP MARK: Two cones, apexes pointing up
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: white flashing light
continuously VQ or Q
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: two lines, blue over yellow
South Cardinal Mark
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicate safe water to the SOUTH of the mark.
COLOUR: YELLOW BLACK
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar
TOP MARK: Two cones, apexes pointing DOWN
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: white flashing light
VQ (6) + LFl. 10s or Q (6) + LFl. 15s
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: two lines, yellow over blue
West Cardinal Mark
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicate safe water to the WEST of the mark.
COLOUR: YELLOW BLACK YELLOW
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar
TOP MARK: Two cones, apexes pointing TOWARDS each other
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: white flashing light
VQ (9) 10s or Q (9) 15s
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: two lines, yellow over yellow
East Cardinal Mark
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicate safe water to the EAST of the mark.
COLOUR: BLACK YELLOW BLACK
SHAPE: Spar / Pillar
TOP MARK: Two cones, apexes pointing AWAY from each other
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: white flashing light
VQ (3) 5s or Q (3) 10s
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: two lines, blue over blue
Port Hand Lateral Mark IALA A
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicates limit of channel
COLOUR: red
SHAPE: spar / pillar / CAN
TOP MARK: red can
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: red flashing light of any rhythm other than composite flashing (2+1)
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: RED band or square
What to do if you are on the dangerous side of the cardinal mark?
Stop the vessel. Call the Master, do a chart assessment. check the echo sounder, where is the safe water?
Special Marker Buoy
IDENTIFICATION:
USE: indicates a special area or feature, the nature of which is apparent from reference to a chart, sailing directions or NtoMs.
“CROFTS”
cables or pipelines
recreation zones
ODAS buoys
firing or military exercise zones
TSS
Spoil grounds
another function could be to define a channel within a channel.
COLOUR: Yellow
SHAPE: ANY
(Spar / Pillar / Can / Cone / Sphere)
TOP MARK: Yellow diagonal cross
LIGHT COLOUR + SEQUENCE: yellow light, any rhythm that can’t be confused with a white light in the vicinity.
RETROFLECTIVE TAPE: Yellow band
What would you do if steaming NORTH and you see a North cardinal in front of you?
STOP the vessel, call the master. do a chart assessment. switch on the echo sounder. safe water is behind you.
What would you do if steaming 270 degrees and you find a North cardinal ahead of you?
Sound 1 short blast on the ships whistle and alter course to STARBOARD.
