Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Chapter 5 Your “Highway” Signs Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Lesson Objectives Aids to Navigation (ATONS) Cautions around ATONS Meaning of chart symbols Electronic ATONS Reference materials – changes in ATONS Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. ATONS How are ATONS essential for boaters? Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. ATONS Help determine a safe course Help determine where you are Help navigate to reach destination Give information Are shown on chart Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. ATONS Short range (Examples?) Long range (Examples?) Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. ATONS Short range Buoys Daymarks/daybeacons Lighthouses Long range GPS Loran - C Radar Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. ATONS What other landmarks are helpful to boaters? Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. ATONS Anything visible from the water Towers Monuments Bridges Distinctive land formations Appear on chart Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. ATONS ATONS are protected by law Do not: Alter Destroy Move Tie up to Climb on Obscure others view Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Buoyage System How are ATONS grouped into systems? Location Maintenance Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Buoyage System There are four Buoyage Systems in US US ATON System Intracoastal Waterway System Western Rivers System Uniform State Waterway Marking System merged into USATON System in 2003 Merge = adopted same aton patterns Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. US ATON Principal system of the U. S. All Navigable waterways (empty to sea) except Western Rivers, & waterways crossing state boundaries One of two international standards. Used throughout N & S America, Caribbean, Japan, Korea, & Philippines. Remainder of world uses other standard (colors reversed) Maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. U.S. ATON System What are the six types of ATONS? Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. U.S. ATON System Lateral Marks including Preferred Channel Marks Safe Water Marks Isolated Danger Marks Range Marks Regulatory Marks Special Purpose Marks Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) New Jersey to the Florida Keys along the Gulf of Mexico to Brownsville, TX Lateral marks are small reflective yellow squares and triangles Non-lateral marks, e.g. safe water and range marks, have reflective yellow band. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Western Rivers The Mississippi River and it’s tributaries Need to study if you plan to boat it. Left descending bank; right descending bank Downbound has right of way Maintained by the U. S. Coast Guard Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Uniform State Waterway Marking System Merged with US ATON system by end of 2003. Maintained by individual states Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Uniform State Waterway Marking System Cautions “Merge” is to replace the ATONS which looked similar to US ATONs, but had different meanings. US ATON system added information marks, and a few others, needed by the states No affirmative confirmation that process was completed. Need to have good understanding of your location Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Buoys /Beacons Come in various sizes and shapes Daymark – signboard only Daybeacon – signboard & piling or dolphin Buoy floats, has watch circle May or may not have lights Mark channels, dangers, obstructions Provide regulatory information Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Buoys /Beacons Characteristics Reprinted with permission from The Weekend Navigator by Bob Sweet Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Waterway Daymarks Daymarks Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Waterway Daymarks Characteristics: Triangles – red and even numbered Squares – green and odd numbered Octagons – color varies, may be lettered Diamonds - color varies, may be lettered Rectangles – color varies, may be lettered Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Day Beacons Daymark on a pile or Dolphin = daybeacon R “2” Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Waterway Marks/Buoys Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Waterway Marks/Buoys Floating ATONS Various shapes, sizes, & functions Maybe lighted Shines from dusk to dawn May have sound signals Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks Buoys/Cautions Watch circle Position Approximate Light and acoustics may fail Off station Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Diamond shaped Diamond shaped day marks Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Diamond shaped US ATON System No lateral significance Marks where you are on a chart In Western Rivers System Diamond shaped Crossing daymark indicates where channel changes to other bank Crossing daymark has green and white diamonds Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Regulatory Regulatory/Informational Markers Description and purpose Signs Buoys Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Regulatory Provides regulatory information Slow, No Wake, 5 mph etc. Provides hazard information Rock, shoals, etc Marks restrictive areas No boats allowed Provides basic information For First Aid, Manatee area, etc. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Light Structures Define Minor lights Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Light Structures Same function as lighted buoys Vary greatly in size and shape Chart symbols Magenta colored exclamation marks with black dots to mark the location Chart description Fl G 4s “5” Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Special purpose Describe Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Special purpose Yellow – any shape Black letters If lighted Amber (yellow) light Marks Fishing nets Anchorage areas Intakes Military Exercise areas Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Lateral marks Green or Red daymarks or buoys Characteristics Mark sides of channel Distinctive color and numbering Usually placed in pairs Always begins with 1, 2, etc. each new waterway Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Lateral marks Color/Numbers on Lateral Markers Red marks have even numbers, nun shape Green marks have odd numbers, can shape If both a number and letter, then mark was placed after the original marks were placed Red Right Returning Always keep the Red marks on the right side of your vessel when returning from sea. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks Lateral Marks Red, Right, Returning Return from sea Clockwise around U.S. Numbers Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Lateral marks – Buoys 7 8 Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Lateral marks - Daybeacons Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Lateral mark - Preferred Channel Preferred Channel Mark Treat based on top color band Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks Preferred Channel Found at junctions Shows preferred channel Sometimes marks wrecks or obstructions do not go between mark and shore If lighted the color of the light will match the top color Set flashing pattern (2 + 1) Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Safe Water Marks Safe Water ATONS Characteristics Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Safe Water Marks Red and White striped Spherical buoys Floating structures with red ball on top Octagonal daymark If lighted it will have a white light May be lettered Flashing pattern always Morse Code A 1 short flash followed by 1 long flash Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Ranges Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Waterway Marks/Ranges Pair of ATONS forming line of position Front mark lower, rear mark higher Directs you to center of channel At night lights can be used the same as the marks To correct course, steer toward the lower mark or light Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Waterway Marks/ICW ICW Yellow triangles mark starboard Yellow squares mark port Dual purpose Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Waterway Marks/ICW Dual Purpose Marks Used to mark U.S. ATON and ICW Sometimes yellow triangle on square lateral mark and yellow square on triangle lateral mark If following ICW, use yellow marks If following original waterway, follow (red or green) lateral marks Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. ICW Dual Purpose Mark ICW port side mark US ATON starboard mark Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Waterway Marks/ICW Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Light Characteristics Patterns FIXED Light - On continuously from sun down to sun up OCCULTING Light - On more than off FLASHING Light - Off more than on Flashes less than 50/minute QUICK Light - flashes between 50 - 80 times per minute ISOPHASE - equal light and dark periods Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Sound Signals Most lighthouses, major lights and some minor lights have: Fog horns Gongs Whistles Bells Warns mariners of danger Mark can be identified by sound Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Chart Symbols Helps identify specific ATONS Color represents color of mark or buoy Italics indicates buoy or floating mark Identifies flashing pattern Magenta exclamation mark indicates a lighted mark. Black dot is location of mark Magenta is used because it is visible under red lights (for night vision) Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Chart Symbols CAN - Green Diamond with small watch circle NUN - Red Diamond with small watch circle Watch circle overprinted with magenta when lighted Italics used for buoys and other floating structures Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Chart Symbols Green Daymark - Green Square Red Daymark - Red Triangle Roman type letters used for fixed marks Chart will provide flashing pattern e.g. R “2”FI R 6s Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Light Structures/ Light Houses Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Light Structures/ Light Houses Short range ATON Marks prominent headlands, harbor entrances, isolated dangers Height and intensity of light is determined by need Chart describes flashing pattern, height of structure and visibility FL W 6s 12ft 3m Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Lights on Bridges Fixed Draw Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Lights on Bridges Bridges marked on charts “Fixed” or “Draw” Lights on bridges are not part of buoyage system Drawbridges RED Lights - Bridge is closed GREEN Lights - Bridge is open Green lights mark navigable channel for fixed bridge - Red lights mark sides of channel Preferred channel marked with White lights Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Electronic ATONS Characteristics Loran - C GPS Radar Reminder: don’t rely on a single navigation system. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Electronic ATONS/ Loran - C Land based AM radio navigation system Largely American system Static Signal deflected by land mass & weather Translators now convert TD (time differential) to Longitude and Latitude About 100 foot accuracy System upgraded in 2005 Backup for GPS since not subject to same reception restrictions Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Electronic ATONS/ GPS Satellites provide nearly accurate world wide positioning Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Uses waypoints to navigate. YOU must ensure course is safe. Chart plotter useful; must update charts Consider overlay RADAR on single monitor Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Electronic ATONS/RADAR Only real time electronic check for navigation hazards 2 systems: ship’s head up or north up May automatically ID collision course Electronic marks to track targets If you have RADAR you must use it. You will want the practice too. Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.

Navigation Publications and websites Local Notice to Mariners http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lnm/d11/default.htm Chart No. 1 http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/chartno1.htm Light List http://navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/lnm/d11/default.htm Coast Pilot http://nautical charts/noaa.gov/nsd/coastpilot.htm Copyright 2007 - Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc.