Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage Buoyage Module Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage Interest and Need. In previous lessons we have looked at how to fix the ship during the daytime using a number of differing means. There are a number of other aides by which to keep a ship safe and we will look at these now. First we will look at the Buoyage that is found around our coast and provides us with a useful aid to navigation. Note that buoyage is only an aid to navigation and does not relieve the Master / Captain of knowing exactly where he is.

Range During this lesson we will cover the following: The IALA buoyage system Region A. The general & local direction of buoyage. The characteristics of the different buoys & lights used in this system. Abbreviations used on charts.

Objectives By the end of this lesson you will be able to: Identify lights, fog signals, and IALA Buoyage System (Region A) by day and night. State the meaning of and identify general light characteristics Use ALLFS to a basic level State the use and limitations of fog signals Determine the meaning of and be able to pass the safe side of IALA Buoyage (Region A)

IALA Non-governmental body International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Non-governmental body recommends improvements to navigational aids based on the latest technology What does IALA stand for? IALA is a non-governmental body which brings together representatives from the aids to navigation services in order to exchange information and recommend improvements to navigational aids based on the latest technology One of the most taxing situations that a Mariner will encounter is when he is confronted unexpectedly at night or in low visibility by the lights marking an uncharted danger, such as a recent wreck; immediately he must instinctively, positively and correctly decide what he must do. In the Dover straight in 1971 the Brandenburg struck the wreckage of the Texaco Caribbean and sank, though the wreckage was appropriately marked. A few weeks later the wreckage, despite being marked by a wreck marking vessel and many buoys, was struck by the Niki, which also sank. A total of 51 lives were lost. It was this disaster which gave rise to the development and implementation of the IALA Maritime Buoyage System

IALA BUOYAGE REGIONS “A” & “B” 1973 IALA met and divided the World into two Buoyage regions - A & B. Regions A & B differ by which side lateral marks are placed. We are interested in Region A A A B A B B A B A However it was not until 1973 that IALA met and divided the world into two Buoyage regions the difference being on what side lateral marks are placed. We are interested in region A. B A B A A A

The IALA System The system applies to all fixed and floating marks, other than lighthouses and sector lights. It serves to indicate the following: Sides and centrelines of navigational channels Navigational channels under fixed bridges Natural dangers and other obstructions such as dangerous wrecks. Areas in which navigation may be subject to regulation Other features of importance to the Mariner Thinking back to your time on the river so far, what sort of things are identified using bouys? Ask around the class and then go through bullet points using examples that they may have seen on the river where possible or have talked about in ROR

IALA Buoyage system A To meet the requirements of the system five different types of mark are provided. Lateral Cardinal Isolated danger Safe water Special marks We will now look more closely at each in turn.

Lateral Marks Lateral marks are generally used for well defined channels in conjunction with direction of Buouyage. They indicate the limits of channels on the port and starboard sides Channel Lateral Marks are generally used for well defined channels, in conjunction with a Conventional Direction of Buoyage. They indicate the port and starboard sides of the route to be followed. This is not just for channels leading to ports but also for well defined channels at sea i.e. the English Channel. Obviously the buoys only appear to be on there correct sides in one direction. To this end the “Direction of Buoyage” needs to be established. This can be split down into two areas: . So if you are going in the direction marked as the direction of buoyage on the chart, then you can expect to see green buoys to starboard and red buoys to port. If you are going in the opposite direction, then it will be the other way around DIRECTION OF BUOYAGE

Direction of Buoyage Channel Local Direction of Buoyage - The direction taken by the Mariner when approaching a harbour, river, estuary or other waterway from seaward. IALA A & B - entering harbour, port hand buoys on the port side and starboard in the starboard side. Channel Local Direction of Buoyage - The direction taken by the mariner when approaching a harbour, river, estuary or other waterway from seaward. The IALA A system, which is used around our coastline, works on the principle that buoyage will be on the correct side for entering harbour i.e. Port hand buoys on the port hand side What happens if you are leaving port? If you are going in the opposite direction, then it will be the other way around DIRECTION OF BUOYAGE

At sea around the British Isles its general direction is SW to NE General Direction of Buoyage - The direction determined by the Buoyage authorities, based whenever possible on the principle of following a clockwise direction around continents. At sea around the British Isles its general direction is SW to NE General Direction of Buoyage - The direction determined by the buoyage authorities, based wherever possible on the principle of following a clockwise direction around continents. It is normally given in Admiralty Sailing Directions and if necessary indicated on the charts by the following the symbol depicted on the overhead. At sea around the British Isles it’s general direction is from SW to NE.

Starboard Lateral Marks Colour - Green Shape - Cone, pillar or spar Topmark - Single green cone Retroreflector - Green band or triangle Light - (When fitted) May have any Rhythm except 2+1 some examples are given below: They are green and are either conical shaped or carry conical shaped topmarks. If numbered they will always be odd. If lit they will carry a green light. see chart 5011 or IALA guide Continuous-quick light Q.G Single-flashing light Fl.G Long-flashing light LFl.G Group-flashing light Fl(2)G

Port Lateral Marks Continuous-quick light Q.R Single-flashing light Colour - Red Shape - Can, pillar or spar Topmark - Single Red can Retroreflector - Red band or square Light - May have any Rhythm except (2+1) some examples are given below: They are red in colour and are either can shaped or carry can shaped topmarks. If numbered they will always be even. If lit they will carry a red light. Continuous-quick light Q.R Single-flashing light Fl.R Long-flashing light LFl.R Group-flashing light Fl(2)R

Cardinal Marks NW NE SE SW N E W S POINT OF INTEREST Note. Topmarks always point towards black band Cardinal Marks are used in conjunction with the compass to indicate where the mariner may find the best navigable water. They are placed in one of four quadrants, North, East, South or West. They then take there name from the quadrant in which they are placed. To be safe the mariner then passes N of the North mark, E of the East mark etc. Cardinal marks may be used to indicate the following: That the deepest water in an area is on the named side of the mark. Indicate the safe side on which to pass a danger. Draw attention to a feature in a channel such as a bend, junction, bifurcation or end of a shoal.They are yellow and black in colour and have a top mark of two cones. The Cones point in the direction of the compass for North and South marks, for East marks the cones represent an E and for West marks the cones look like a Wine glass. The cones also point to the portion of the buoy that is black. i.e. for a North mark both cones point northward and the top half of the buoy is black. Let us say the point of interest is a wreck. A northerly cardinal marks the northern extent of a point of danger, so you must pass to the north of it. Recent wrecks are often marked with four cardinal buoys in this fashion, meaning that whatever direction you pass it from, you cannot pass over the wreck S SW SE

Pass to the west of the cardinal Cardinal marks are used are used in conjunction with a compass to indicate where the Mariner may find the best navigable water Pass to the west of the cardinal Whether you approach from north, south or west, you are guided away from the danger

North Cardinal Mark NW NE Colour Top - Black Bottom - Yellow Topmark Two black cones points upwards N POINT OF INTEREST E W Retroreflector Blue over Yellow band Shape Pillar or spar Point out how the cone point towards the black band and how the light characteristics correlate with a clock face. S Light Colour - White Rhythm - Q or VQ SW SE

East Cardinal Mark NW NE Topmark Two black cones points away Colour Top - Black Middle - Yellow Bottom - Black N POINT OF INTEREST E W Retroreflector Two Blue bands S Shape Pillar or spar Light Colour - White Rhythm - Q(3) or VQ(3) SW SE

South Cardinal Mark NW NE Topmark Two black cones points downwards Colour Top - Yellow Bottom - Black Light Colour - White Rhythm - Q(6)+LF or VQ(6)+LF N POINT OF INTEREST E W Retroreflector Yellow over Blue band S Shape Pillar or spar SW SE

West Cardinal Mark NW NE Topmark Two black cones points together (W for wineglass) Colour Top - Yellow Middle - Black Bottom - Yellow Shape Pillar or spar Retroreflector Two Yellow bands N POINT OF INTEREST E W S Light Colour - White Rhythm - Q(9) or VQ(9) SW SE

To remember the light sequences think of a clock face, the long flash immediately after the group of flashes of a South Cardinal mark ensures that 6 flashes cannot be mistaken for 3 or 9. 9 3 6 12 W S N E Q(6)+LFl. or VQ(6)+LFl. Q or VQ Q(9) or VQ(9) Q(3) or VQ(3)

Isolated Danger Marks Colour - Black & Red Shape - Pillar or spar Topmark - Two black spheres Retroreflector - Blue & Red band Light - White, Group-flashing (2) Use - Erected on or moored above isolated dangers which have navigable water all around them What could isolated danger marks be used to identify? Isolated danger marks are erected on, or moored on or above, isolated dangers of limited extent which have navigable water all around them. They are black with one or more red bands around them. They have a top mark of two spheres disposed vertically. If lit they have a white flashing light showing a group of two. Fl(2) Group-flashing light

Safe Water Mark Isophase Occulting Long Flash every 10 secs Iso Oc Colour - Red & White Shape - Spherical, Pillar or spar Topmark - One Red sphere Retroreflector - Red & White bands or Stripes Light - White with the rhythms below Use - To indicate navigable water all round the mark. May be used as a centreline, mid-channel or landfall buoy or the best point to pass under a bridge Red and white stripes are used for safe water marks. They have a topmark of a single red sphere. If lit they have a white light occulting or Isophase or Long flashing or Morse Code A. The definition of these characteristics will be given later. Safe water marks are used to indicate that there is navigable water all round the mark. Such a buoy may be used as a centreline, mid-channel or landfall buoy or the best point to pass under a fixed bridge. Isophase Occulting Long Flash every 10 secs Iso Oc LFl. 10s Mo(A) Morse Code A

Special Marks Fl. Y Fl(4)Y Yellow Flashing light Group-flashing light Colour - Yellow Shape - Can be any shape Topmark - Yellow cross Retroreflector - Yellow band or cross Light - Yellow, may have any rhythm not used for white lights, some examples below Use - Indicates a special area or feature the nature of which is apparent from reference to the chart. Special marks are yellow in colour with a single yellow X as the topmark. If lit they have a yellow light that must not have the same characteristics as any of the other buoys. Special marks are used to indicate to the mariner a special area or feature, the nature of which is apparent from reference to the chart, Sailing Directions or Notices to Mariners. Special marks may be lettered to indicate their purpose. Uses include the marking of: Ocean Data Acquisition System (ODAS) buoys Spoil grounds Military Exercise Zones, Cable or pipelines, including outfall pipes Recreation Zones They may also be used to define a channel within a channel. i.e. a channel for deep draught vessels in a wide estuary, where the limits for normal navigation are marked by red and green Lateral Buoys, may have the boundaries of the deep channel indicated by yellow buoys of the appropriate lateral shape or its centreline marked by yellow spherical buoys. Fl. Y Fl(4)Y Yellow Flashing light Group-flashing light

IALA REGION B Lateral Marks

Characteristics of Lights There are four main characteristics to a light RHYTHM COLOUR PERIOD INTENSITY We have now established why the buoyage is there, when it was established, what each buoy represents and what it looks like. We need to now consider how we identify them and any other light at night. In order to find the light on the chart and be able to use it to fix the ship's position you must be able to identify the light by its characteristics. There are four main characteristics to a light; RHYTHM, COLOUR, PERIOD AND INTENSITY

Characteristics of Lights RHYTHMS F Fixed On all the time Fl Flashing < 50 flashes per min Q Quick Flashing 50-80 flashes per min VQ Very Quick Flashing 80-160 flashes per min UQ Ultra Quick Flashing > 160 flashes per min Oc Occulting More light than dark Iso Isophase Equal light and dark Alt Alternating Different colours Mo Morse Code Flashes Morse Code characters RHYTHM - What types of RHYTHMS are there?

Characteristics of Lights COLOURS W White R Red G Green Y Yellow Bu Blue Vi Violet If no colour is listed, the light is WHITE What colours are there?

Characteristics of Lights PERIOD The period of a light is the time taken to complete one full cycle of ON-and-OFF changes.

Characteristics of Lights PERIOD The period of a light is the time taken to complete one full cycle of ON-and-OFF changes. 15 seconds

Characteristics of Lights PERIOD The period of a light is the time taken to complete one full cycle of ON-and-OFF changes. Fl (3) W 15s 15 seconds

Characteristics of Lights INTENSITY A measure of the brightness or power of the light. The standard unit of measurement is candelas. However, on the majority of charts and on all British Admiralty Charts, the Nominal Range of a light is given. INTENSITY - measured in candelas. Each light is fitted with a bulb or filament of fixed power or brightness.

Lights The range of visibility is dependent on: The intensity of the light The prevailing visibility The height of the light combined with the height of eye of the observer. The most important factor that needs to be known is how far away you will be able to see the light, this broken down into three areas:

Lights The Intensity The brighter the light the further it can be seen. The range is based on visibility being ten nautical miles and this referred to as luminous range. Bearing in mind that visibility is rarely exactly ten nautical miles and that your height of eye may not be sufficient to overcome the curvature of the earth; the ranges given on charts should be used only as a rough guide. Exact calculations can be made with reference to tables contained in ALLFS and this will be taught to the seamen amongst you later in your careers.

Lights The prevailing visibility The range of a lights given on the chart or in Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals(ALLFS) is based on visibility being 10nm, this is referred to as the Nominal range. Visibility is rarely exactly 10nm so the ranges given on Charts are a rough guide. The range is based on visibility being ten nautical miles and this referred to as luminous range. Bearing in mind that visibility is rarely exactly ten nautical miles and that your height of eye may not be sufficient to overcome the curvature of the earth; the ranges given on charts should be used only as a rough guide. Exact calculations can be made with reference to tables contained in ALLFS and this will be taught to the seamen amongst you later in your careers.

Lights The height of the light combined with the height of eye of the observer The height of the light is also given on the chart or in Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals(ALLFS). The height of the light and the range are given on the chart or in Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals (ALLFS). Heights of eye will vary on different ships and may be insufficient to overcome the curvature of the Earth, therefore the range of the light should again only be used as a guide even when visibility is at 10nm.

Characteristics of Lights Geographical Range Range of a light taking into account the height of a light and the height of the observer

Characteristics of Lights Geographical Range Range of a light taking into account the height of a light and the height of the observer

Characteristics of Lights Geographical Range Range of a light taking into account the height of a light and the height of the observer.

Chart Symbology FL (4) 20s 15m 12M By combining the various characteristics it is possible to have a large number of lights within a small area that are all easily identifiable. Advantage is taken of this to provide the necessary distinction between aids in the same area. FL (4) 20s 15m 12M

Chart Symbology White light Flashing in a group of 4 FL (4) 20s 15m 12M

Chart Symbology White light Flashing in a group of 4 FL (4) 20s 15m 12M Period 4 flashes every 20 second

Chart Symbology White light Flashing in a group of 4 Luminous range 12 Miles FL (4) 20s 15m 12M Period 4 flashes every 20 second

Chart Symbology Elevation 15 metres above M. H.W. S. White light Flashing in a group of 4 Luminous range 12 Miles FL (4) 20s 15m 12M Period 4 flashes every 20 second

Characteristics of Lights CHART EXAMPLES

Characteristics of Lights CHART EXAMPLES Fl (6) 30s

Characteristics of Lights CHART EXAMPLES Fl (6) 30s A group of 6 white flashes every 30 seconds 30 seconds

Characteristics of Lights CHART EXAMPLES Oc Y 12.5s

Characteristics of Lights CHART EXAMPLES Oc Y 12.5s A Yellow light with one Occultation every 12.5 seconds 12.5 seconds

Characteristics of Lights CHART EXAMPLES F G

Characteristics of Lights CHART EXAMPLES F G A fixed green light

Characteristics of Lights CHART EXAMPLES Iso R

Characteristics of Lights CHART EXAMPLES Iso R A red light with an equal duration of light and darkness (Isophase)

Characteristics of Lights SECTOR LIGHTS

Characteristics of Lights SECTOR LIGHTS W Finally a light that is not covered elsewhere is the sector light - This is a light presenting different appearances, either of colour or character, over various parts of the horizon of interest to maritime navigation. Remember that the limits of sectors and arcs of visibility are given as seen by an observer from seaward. ADMIRALTY LIST OF LIGHTS AND FOG SIGNALS All of the information that we have discussed for lights is covered in this publication. It also gives you a physical description of the light structure so that during the hours of daylight when the light is not visible you can use the structure for fixing or a headmark W R

Fog Signals - LIMITATIONS Heard at greatly varying distances Affected by atmospheric conditions Areas of inaudible sound Fog signals may be unoperable at very short notice No accurate bearing or range information FOG SIGNALS give an invaluable warning of danger but their use for navigation is limited. Sound travels in unpredictable ways. What problems are associated with fog signals? and the following points should be noted:

Fog Signals Abbreviations of fog signals found on charts. Dia Siren Reed Explos Bell Gong Whis Horn

Summary During this lesson we have covered the following: The IALA buoyage system Region A. The general & local direction of buoyage. The characteristics of the different buoys & lights used in this system. Abbreviations used on charts.

Objectives You should now be able to: Identify lights, fog signals, and IALA Buoyage System (Region A) by day and night. State the meaning of and identify general light characteristics Use ALLFS to a basic level State the use and limitations of fog signals Determine the meaning of and be able to pass the safe side of IALA Buoyage (Region A) References; Chart 5011 available in the exam. Make sure you can identify and interpret buoy from the chart. Check achievement: Which IALA system does the UK use What is the difference between the region A and region B What side would you pass a Starboard hand bouy in region A when leaving harbour? What are isolated danger marks used to identify What are special marks used for When identifying lights on a chart what colour is the light if none is specified? Where can you find all the buoys, light and fog signal abbreviations? Link to next lesson - either times of sunset and sunrise/OOW or revision session and exam.