National Maritime College
Boating education and training.
Buoys, Beacons and Marks
The IALA Buoyage System is a worldwide standard sea mark system used in navigation to mark the edge channels. These road signs on the water are made up of six types of marks - cardinal, lateral, isolated danger, special, safe water and new danger marks. These buoys, beacons and marks indicate where safe water lies and where you should navigate safely within a channel. They are placed on our waterways by local Maritime Authorities to assist in identifying channels, headlands, rock shoals, reefs, hazards and shallow areas. Always refer to a local chart to identify where potential hazards may be.
There are two Buoyage Regions (A and B) where the lateral marks differ. In Region A starboard marks are green and port marks are red. In Region B the colours are reversed, starboard marks are red and port marks are green. Region A includes part of the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australia and part of the Pacific Ocean. Region B includes North and South America.
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Lateral Marks
These show well-established channels and indicate port (left) and starboard (right) sides of the channels. Port marks are a red can shape. At night, a red flashing light may be shown. Starboard marks are a green conical shape. At night a green flashing light maybe shown.
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Cardinal Marks
Coloured yellow and black each indicates where there is deep water close to a danger and they show this relative to the compass. NORTH - white light continuous quick flashing light. Pass to North. SOUTH - white light 6 quick flashes + 1 long flash. Pass to South. EAST - white light 3 quick flashes. Pass to East. WEST - white light 9 quick flashes. Pass to West.
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Isolated Danger Marks
Indicates an isolated danger, such as a submerged rock. It tells you not to pass too close. Coloured black with one or more horizontal red bands. If lit at night it shows a group of two white flashes. The top mark has two round spheres.
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Special Marks
Indicates a special area which should be kept clear of. Coloured yellow, if lit at night it shows a flashing yellow light. The top mark is a single yellow cross. Check your chart to find out what is special in the area you are boating in.
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Safe Water Marks
Safe water marks - are red and white striped beacon or buoy, often an isophase or occulting white light. It is used to signify that you [are in safe waters. This sea mark implies that open, deep and safe water lies ahead, though it is sometimes used to indicate the start and end of a buoyed section of a continuous narrow channel or a line of these marks can be used to mark a safe route through shallow areas. In Sydney Harbour it is used as a 'centre line of the channel' and vessels are required to leave it to port when navigating past Bradley's Head in either direction. Pass this mark to port when traveling up (coming in from sea) or, down stream (going out to sea)
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New Danger Marks
New Danger Marks (also known as Emergency Wreck Marking Buoys) are used to identify newly discovered hazards such as a sandbar, rock, reef or wreck which has not already been marked on boating maps or nautical charts. The new danger mark displays blue and yellow vertical stripes in equal number dimensions around the mark.
