Buoyage, Charts & Navigation Flashcards
What is IALA?
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities
All navaids within IALA are distinguished by:
Shape Light Colour Topmark
IALA Region A
- Europe and most of the world
IALA Region B
- North and South america
- Caribbean
- Japan, Korea and Philippines
Describe the basic rules for IALA Zone A
- Port marks are red, can shaped and may have a red flashing light of any rhythm
- Starboard marks are green, cone shaped and may have a green flashing light of any rhythm
“Is there any red port left”
Decribe the basic rules for IALA zone B
- Port marks are green, can shaped and may have a green flashing light of any rhythm.
- Starboard marks are red, cone shaped and may have a red flashing light of any rhythm.
“Red right returning”
What is the shape of port marks in the IALA system?
- Square/can shape or have a can shape topmark
What is the shape of starboard marks in the IALA system?
- Conical or have a conical shaped top mark
Describe this Buoy. What system is it associated with?
- Square can shaped
- Port hand mark
- Red
- IALA system A
Describe this Buoy. What system is it associated with?
- Conical shaped
- Starboard hand mark
- Green
- IALA system A
Describe this Buoy. What system is it associated with?
- Can shaped
- Port hand mark
- Green
- IALA system B
- (F) 1s or 4s
Describe this Buoy. What system is it associated with?
- Conical in shape
- Starboard hand mark
- Red
- IALA system B
- (Fl) 1s or 4s
Isolated Danger Buoy
- Indicates a point of potential hazard
- Red and Black in colour
- Have two round balls at the top
- White light Fl(2)5s or 10s
Describe this Buoy.
- Red and Black
- Two round balls at top
- Isolated Danger Buoy
- Fl(2)5s or 10s
Safe Water Mark
- Used to indicated end/start of a channel, open, deep and safe water lies ahead.
- Red and white vertical stripes
- Also known as a fairway Buoy
- White light and will flash Morese code A, occulting, Isophase or long flash every 10 seconds
Special Mark
- Indicate the boundary of an obstruction, administrative area such as a speed limit, water skiing or mooring area
- Yellow in colour
- Yellow light one quick flash every 5 seconds
Wreck Buoy
- Used to temporarily indicate a wreck until the wreck is cleard or permanent marks are set up.
- Alternating blue and yellow light
Describe this Buoy
- North Cardinal Buoy
- Black over yellow
- Both triangles pointing up
- White light with continuous flash
- Vessels should pass hazard to the North
Describe this Buoy
- East Cardinal Buoy
- Black/Yellow/Black
- Triangles pointed away
- White light Flashing in group of 3
Describe this Buoy
- South Cardinal Buoy
- Yellow over Black
- Triangles pointed down
- White light flash in group of 6 followed by 1 long flash
Describe this Buoy
- West Cardinal Buoy
- Yellow/Black/Yellow
- Triangles point in
- White light flash in group of 9
(Fl)4s
- A light with 1 flash every 4 seconds
- 15 flashes per minute
- 0.5 sec flash; 3.5 sec. eclipse
Mo(A)6s
- Morse Code A
- A white light in which a 0.3 second flash is followed by a 0.6 second eclipse then a 1 second long flash repeated at a rate of 10 times per minute
- Fairway Buoy
(Q)1s
- A white light in which indentical flashes are repeated at a rate of 60 flashes per minute (1 flash every second)
- North Cardinal Buoy
Q(3)10s
- A white light in which a group of 3 flashes is regularly repeated 6 times per minute every 10 seconds.
- East Cardinal Buoy
(Q(6)+LFl)15s
- A white light in which a group of 6 quick flashes is followed by a single long flash. Repeated 4 times per minute or every 15 seconds
- South Cardinal Buoy
Q(9)15s
- A white light in which a group of 9 flashes is repeated 4 times per minute or every 15 seconds.
- West Cardinal Buoy
FI(2)5s
- A white light in which a group of 2 flashes is regularly repeated 12 times per minute or every 5 seconds.
- Isolated Danger Buoy
Bifurcation Buoys
A bifurcation buoy is used to mark the point where a channel divides into different branches. They can be passed on either port or starboard side when travelling upstream but the prefered channel is the one indicated by the color of the top band.
Describe this Buoy
- Port Bifurcation Buoy
- Green Red Green
- Green light, Fl(2+1)6s
- The preferred channel is to the right (starboard)
- You should keep the buoys on your port (left) side
Describe this Buoy
- Starboard Bifurcation Buoy
- The preferred channel is to the left (port)
- These buoys are kept on your starboard (right) side
Describe this Buoy
- Fairway Buoy
- This buoy marks safe water at landfalls, channel entrances or channel centres
- Should be kept on the port (left) side when going in either direction
Describe this Buoy
- Anchorage Buoy
- Yellow with anchor symbol
- Flashing yellow light
Cautionary Buoys
- Yellow buoys
- Mark danger areas such as areas where there is no safe channel, underwater hazards
Describe this Buoy
- Mooring Buoys
Information Buoy
- Orange symbol on white pillars, cans or spars
- Squares provide information such as places to find food, supplies and repairs
- They also give direction, distances and other non-regulatory information
Hazard Buoy
- Orange symbols on white pillars, cans or spars
- Diamonds warn of hazards such as rocks, shoals, or turbulent waters.
Control Buoy
- Orange symbol on white pillar
- Circles indicate a restricted boating area such as no wake, idle speed, speed limit or wash restrictions
Keep-Out Buoys
- Orange symbols on white pillars, cans or spars
- Crossed diamonds indicate areas where pleasure craft are prohibited such as dams and spillways
Describe this day beacon
- Starboard hand day beacon
- Red triangle in the centre of a white background and red border
- Keep on your starboard side when travelling upstream
Describe this day beacon
- Port Hand Day Beacon
- They have a black or green square in the centre of a white bacground and a green border
- Keep them on your port side when travelling upstream
Describe this day beacon
- Port Bifurcation Day Beacon
- Junction (preferred channel to right)
Describe this day beacon
- Starboard Bifurcation
- Junction (Preferred channel to left)
Identify this chart symbol
- North Cardinal Buoy
- Black over yellow
- Two upward triangles
Identify this chart symbol
- East Cardinal Buoy
- Black Yello Black
- Traingles in opposite direction
Identify this chart symbol
- South Cardinal Buoy
- Yellow over black
- Triangles facing downward
Identify this chart symbol
- West Cardinal Buoy
- Yellow/Black/Yellow
- Triangles facing inward
Identify this chart symbol
- Isolated Danger Buoy
Identify this chart symbol
- Isolated Danger Buoy with white light
Identify this chart symbol
- Safe Water Mark
- Red and white vertical stripes
- Safe water such as midchannel and landfall marks
Identify this chart symbol
- Safe Water Mark with white light
- Red and white vertical stripes
Identify these general chart symbols
- Special Marks
- Not primarily used to assist navigation but to indicate special features
- Examples include, cautionary buoys, information and control buoys, hazard buoys etc…
Identify this chart symbol
- Buoy or beacon symbol out of position
Identify this chart symbol
- Starboard Hand Buoy
- Red
- Conical shape
Identify this chart symbol
- Starboard Hand Buoy
- Red
- Red flashing light
- Conical in shape
Identify this chart symbol
- Port Hand Buoy
- Green
- Can shaped
Identify this chart symbol
- Port Hand Buoy
- Green
- Green flashing light
Identify the chart symbol
- Safe Water Buoy, Fairway Buoy
- Red and White vertical stripe
Identify this chart symbol
- Starboard Bifurcation Buoy
- Red Green Red
Identify this chart symbol
- Starboard Bifurcation Buoy
- Red Green Red
- Red flashing light