Aids to Navigation — IALA-B (US) buoyage

Bowditch Ch. 5 §501

Short Range Aids to Navigation Aids to navigation include lights, buoys, beacons, and electronic aids. The US lateral system follows IALA-B: red on the right returning from sea, even numbers on red, odd on green.

Bowditch Pub. 9 Ch. 1 §125

The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) brings together representatives of the aids to navigation services of more than 80 member countries for technical coordination, information sharing, and coordination of improvements to visual aids to navigation throughout the world. It was established in 1957 to provide a permanent organization to support the goals of the Technical Lighthouse Conferences, which had been convening since 1929. The General Assembly of IALA meets about every 4 years. The Council of 20 members meets twice a year to oversee the ongoing programs. Five technical committees maintain the permanent programs: • The Marine Marking Committee •…

Bowditch Pub. 9 Ch. 7 §724

The IALA Maritime Buoyage System There has long been disagreement over the way in which buoy lights should be used since they first appeared towards the end of the 19th century. In particular, some countries favored using red lights to mark the port side of channels when entering from sea while others favored them for marking the starboard side. Another major difference of opinion revolved around the principles to be applied when designing buoy systems. Most countries adopted the principle of the Lateral system while several other countries also favored using the principle of the Cardinal system. In 1957 the, International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) was formed in order to support the goals of the technical lighthouse conferences which had been convening since 1929. Attem…

Bowditch Pub. 9 Ch. 7 §725

Types of Marks The IALA Maritime Buoyage System applies to all fixed and floating marks, other than lighthouses, sector lights, range lights, daymarks, lightships and large navigational buoys, which indicate: 1. The side and center-lines of navigable channels 2. Natural dangers, wrecks, and other obstructions 3. Regulated navigation areas 4. Other important features Most lighted and unlighted beacons other than range marks are included in the system. In general, beacon topmarks will have the same shape and colors as those used on buoys. The system provides five types of marks which may be used in any combination: 1. Lateral marks indicate port and starboard sides of channels. 2. Cardinal marks, named according to the four points of the compass, indicate that the navigable water lies to th…

Bowditch Pub. 9 Ch. 7 §728

IALA Isolated Danger Marks An isolated danger mark is erected on, or moored on or above, an isolated danger of limited extent which has navigable water all around it. The extent of the surrounding navigable water is immaterial; such a mark can, for example, indicate either a shoal which is well offshore or an islet separated by a narrow channel from the coast. Position On a chart, the position of a danger is the center of the symbol or sounding indicating that danger; an isolated danger buoy may therefore be slightly displaced from its geographic position to avoid overprinting the two symbols. The smaller the scale, the greater this offset will be. At very large scales the symbol may be correctly charted. N Points up Black above yellow S Points down Black below yellow W Points together Bl…

Bowditch Pub. 9 Ch. 7 §732

Chart Symbols and Abbreviations Spar buoys and spindle buoys are represented by the same symbol; it is slanted to distinguish them from upright beacon symbols. The abbreviated description of the color of a buoy is given under the symbol. Where a buoy is colored in bands, the colors are indicated in sequence from the top. If the sequence of the bands is not known, or if the buoy is striped, the colors are indicated with the darker color first. Topmarks Topmark symbols are solid black (except when the topmark is red). Lights The period of the light of a cardinal mark is determined by its quadrant and its flash characteristic (either quickflashing or a very quick-flashing). The light’s period is less important than its phase characteristic. Where space on charts is limited, the period may be…