Navigation NAU 102 Lesson 9

Navigation Aids Beacons Manmade objects intended to help fix your position and avoid hazards. Buoys Lights Ranges Fog Signals

Navigation Aids Some private aids maintained by: U.S. Coast Guard operates and maintains U.S. navaids. State governments Other federal agencies Individuals/Companies

Buoys Mark channels Floating navaids Anchored to the bottom Indicate shoals & obstructions Warn of dangers

Buoys Convey information by: ShapeColor Letters or Numbers Light Topmark

Buoys Reflective tape Common equipment: Radar reflectors Sound signals - Bells & Gongs - Whistles & Horns

Buoys Cardinal marks Types of Buoys Lateral marks Special marks Safe water marks Isolated danger marks

Lateral Marks Sides of channels Navaids which mark: Channel junctionsChannel bifurcations

Cardinal Marks Indicate direction of navigable water. Show cardinal directions (N, S, E, W) of safe water E.g. Always pass to the North of a North Cardinal Mark Note: cardinal marks are not used in U.S. waters

Safe Water Marks Indicate an area of safe (navigable) waters. E.g. Mid-channel & fairway buoys

Isolated Danger Marks Navaids mark points of danger. E.g. Submerged wreck

Special Marks Traffic separation schemes Navaids mark special features of interest: Anchorages Recreational zones Etc.

Lateral Systems Historically there have been many buoyage systems in the world. 1970s - International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) simplified the system

IALA Buoyage Systems Two major international systems: IALA - B IALA - A Europe Africa Most of Asia Australia New Zealand North America South America Japan Philippines South Korea

IALA Buoyage Systems

Direction Conventions Based on entering from seaward. E.g. The right (or starboard) side of a channel is to starboard of vessel entering from sea. E.g. The right side is to port of a vessel heading towards the sea.

Direction Conventions Many places “entering from seaward” is not clear. E.g. Along coasts and Intracoastal waterways. Clockwise direction around U.S. is treated as entering.

Direction Conventions

Lateral Colors Red to starboard IALA - B Green to port “Red-Right-Returning” Red buoys and green buoys mark the sides of channels

Lateral Colors IALA - A is opposite.

Lateral Colors Horizontal Red & Green Bands Mark junctions & bifurcations Top color indicates preferred channel.

Lateral Colors

Cardinal Colors Horizontal Black & Yellow Bands

Safe Water Colors Red & White Vertical Stripes

Isolated Danger Colors Black & Red Horizontal Bands

Special Marks Color Solid Yellow

Buoy Shapes 5 Basic Shapes Can Cone (Nun) Sphere Pillar Spar

Buoy Shapes Can Mark port side of channels Mark channel junctions – preferred channel to starboard

Buoy Shapes Can

Buoy Shapes Conical / Nun Mark starboard side of channels Mark channel junctions – preferred channel to port

Buoy Shapes Conical / Nun

Buoy Shapes Sphere Safe Water Marks

Buoy Shapes Pillar Any type of buoy Often lighted Tall, central structure on broad base. Color & topmark indicate type

Buoy Shapes Pillar

Buoy Shapes Spar Any type of buoy Often lighted Usually not floating, driven into bottom. Thin cylinder

Buoy Shapes Isolated danger marks and special marks may be any shape. Pillar or spar are preferred.

Topmarks Shapes attached to pillars and spars. Indicate type of mark. Square = port side Cone = starboard side Lateral Marks

Topmarks Isolated Danger 2 Spheres, one above the other

Topmarks Safe Water 1 Sphere

Topmarks Special Purpose – Yellow X

Topmarks Double Cones = Cardinal Marks NorthSouth EastWest

Topmarks North points up. South points down. West looks like a Wine glass. The points point to the black stripe(s).

Introduction to Navigation Questions?