IRPCS Part 6 - Buoyage

Question 1

What does a red lateral mark indicate in IALA Region A?

Answer 1

Port (left) side of channel when returning from sea.

Question 2

What does a green lateral mark indicate in IALA Region A?

Answer 2

Starboard (right) side of channel when returning from sea.

Question 3

What is the shape of a red lateral mark?

Answer 3

Can (cylindrical) or pillar with a flat top.

Question 4

What is the shape of a green lateral mark?

Answer 4

Conical or pillar with a pointed top.

Question 5

What is the light characteristic of a red lateral mark?

Answer 5

Red flashing light (any rhythm except 2+1).

Question 6

What is the light characteristic of a green lateral mark?

Answer 6

Green flashing light (any rhythm except 2+1).

Question 7

What does a preferred channel mark indicate?

Answer 7

Main channel direction at a junction.

Question 8

How is a preferred channel to starboard mark identified?

Answer 8

Red with a green horizontal band and light: red 2+1.

Question 9

How is a preferred channel to port mark identified?

Answer 9

Green with a red horizontal band and light: green 2+1.

Question 10

What does a North Cardinal mark indicate?

Answer 10

Safe water is to the north of the mark.

Question 11

Describe the topmark of a North Cardinal mark.

Answer 11

Two black cones pointing up.

Question 12

What is the light of a North Cardinal mark?

Answer 12

Continuous quick or very quick flashing.

Question 13

What does a South Cardinal mark indicate?

Answer 13

Safe water is to the south of the mark.

Question 14

Describe the topmark of a South Cardinal mark.

Answer 14

Two black cones pointing down.

Question 15

What is the light of a South Cardinal mark?

Answer 15

Six quick flashes + one long flash.

Question 16

What does an East Cardinal mark indicate?

Answer 16

Safe water is to the east of the mark.

Question 17

Describe the topmark of an East Cardinal mark.

Answer 17

Two black cones base to base.

Question 18

What is the light of an East Cardinal mark?

Answer 18

Three quick flashes.

Question 19

What does a West Cardinal mark indicate?

Answer 19

Safe water is to the west of the mark.

Question 20

Describe the topmark of a West Cardinal mark.

Answer 20

Two black cones point to point.

Question 21

What is the light of a West Cardinal mark?

Answer 21

Nine quick flashes.

Question 22

What does an isolated danger mark indicate?

Answer 22

A hazard with safe water all around.

Question 23

Describe the topmark of an isolated danger mark.

Answer 23

Two black spheres.

Question 24

What is the color pattern of an isolated danger mark?

Answer 24

Black with one or more red horizontal bands.

Question 25

What is the light of an isolated danger mark?

Answer 25

Group flashing (2) white.

Question 26

What does a safe water mark indicate?

Answer 26

Safe water all around (e.g. mid-channel or landfall mark).

Question 27

Describe the topmark of a safe water mark.

Answer 27

Red and white vertical stripes with a single red sphere.

Question 28

What is the light of a safe water mark?

Answer 28

Isophase, occulting, or a single long flash every 10s.

Question 29

What does a special mark indicate?

Answer 29

Special areas/features (e.g. pipelines, recreation zones).

Question 30

What is the color and shape of a special mark?

Answer 30

Yellow, any shape, with a yellow X topmark.

Question 31

What is the light of a special mark?

Answer 31

Yellow flashing (not matching other marks).

Question 32

What does an emergency wreck marking buoy look like?

Answer 32

Blue and yellow vertical stripes, yellow cross topmark.

Question 33

What is the light of an emergency wreck marking buoy?

Answer 33

Alternating blue and yellow, 1s each.