1. (Marine Safety) Department Navigation Systems Division
Prevention
(Marine Safety) Department
Navigation Systems Division
BASIC
ATON
TRAINING
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop 1

2. Basic ATON Training Today’s Subject Agenda
ATON Discrepancy Review.
Getting AUXDATA credit for AN Activity.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

3. ATON Training Objectives
1. Review the definitions for the various Federal and Private ATONs.
2. Understand why ATONs are established.
3. Understand the specific purpose of the various ATONs.
4. Become familiar with the flash characteristics used on ATONs.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

4. ATON Operational Objectives
1. A high level of professionalism required on the part of the AN Team member.
2. Accurate and complete ATON reports to the Coast Guard.
3. A high level of quality data to increase the credibility of our ATON Program.
3. Reports forwarded to the Coast Guard in a timely manner.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

5. TERMINOLOGY UPDATE
ATON – FEDERAL SHORT RANGE AID TO NAVIGATION PATON – PRIVATE AID TO NAVIGATION.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

6. ATON System Definitions
IALA - International Association of Lighthouse Authorities.
Divides the world into 2 regions:
Region “A”: Most of the World
Region “B”: North & South America, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.
Bowditch pg.72
Each country had their own system of navigation. Ships going to other countries were confused.
All the countries got together and came up with a standard.
In 1980 IALA maritime buoyage system was adopted.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

7. ATON System Modes Region “B” Region “A”
Green Even Triangles
Red Odd Squares
Region “B”
Red – Even - Triangles and nuns.
Green - Odd - Squares and cans.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

8. U.S. Marking System ATON System Names Intracoastal Waterway System
Western River System
There are 3 systems that make up our waterways
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

9. U. S. Marking System “Red Right Returning from the sea”
Lateral System:
Employs a simple arrangement of . . .
1. colors,
2. numbers, and
3. shapes,
and when you can’t see the shape,,
light colors and light characteristics.
. . . to show on which side an aid should be passed when proceeding in the Conventional Direction of Buoyage.
“Red Right Returning from the sea”
Bowditch pg.73
The LATERAL system indicates the PORT & STBD sides of the channel.
Europeans use a CARDINAL system, developed from the four points of the compass, that marks where navigable water is located. an eastern quadrant buoy means that there is navigable water on the eastern side of the buoy .
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

10. Conventional Direction of Buoyage
Purpose: To identify how aids should be passed in areas other than channels.
Regions:
Atlantic Coast: Southerly
Gulf Coast: North and Westerly
Pacific Coast: Northerly
Great Lakes: North and Westerly (Lake Michigan: Southerly)
4-3 AM / Bowditch pg.73,74
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

11. Conventional Direction of Buoyage
Used for marking the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the off-shore ocean buoys along the coast.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

12. Definition of an Aid to Navigation
Any device, external to a vessel,
intended to assist navigators to:
a. Determine their position,
b. Determine a safe course, or
c. To warn them of dangers or
obstructions to navigation.
Admin manual 1-2/ 1-5
Any device external, could be a landmark, building, jetty, buoy, or whatever... that assists YOU with navigation.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

13. Definition of a Buoy
Any unmanned, floating aid to navigation that is moored to the seabed.
May be lighted or unlighted.
The seabed is owned by the Corps of Engineers (USACE) and is licensed to the Coast Guard who deploy ATONs and authorize private parties to deploy PATONs.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

14. Nun Buoy 6 White Conical shape Number Red Retro
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

15. Definition of a Beacon Any fixed aid to navigation located
on a shore or marine site.
Lighted beacons are called Lights.
Unlighted beacons are called
Daybeacons or Daymarks.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

16. Definition of a Daymark
The daytime identifier of an aid to
navigation presenting one of
several colors, shapes, numerals
or letters.
Shape may be square, triangle,
rectangle, diamond or octagon.
4-1
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

17. 2 Red Daymark 2 It should have a contrasting red number
Is there anything wrong with this daymark?
It should have a contrasting red number 2

18. Starboard Lateral Marks
Color: Red
Shape: Triangular
or conical—nuns.
Character: Even Numbers
Light: Red
Lighted
Buoy
Small Light
Daymark
3-6 tech manual
Nun
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

19. Lighted Red Buoy
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

20. Red Daymark on Dolphin (Lighted)
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

21. Port Lateral Marks Cans Numbers Color: Green Shape: Square /
Lighted
Buoy
Color: Green
Shape: Square /
Cans
Character: Odd
Numbers
Light: Green
Small Light
Daymark
3-6 tech manual
Can
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

22. Can Buoy 7 7 It should have a white number.
Is there anything wrong with this can buoy?

23. Green Can Buoy
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

24. Lighted Green Buoy
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

25. 3 3 Green Daymark It should have a contrasting GREEN number.
Is there anything wrong with this daybeacon? 3 3
Green Daymark

26. A good reason to take it slow and watch where you’re going!
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

27. Let’s add in a few more buoy types!9 10 2 7 1 8
OK . . .
Let’s add in a few more buoy types! 5 6 3 2 3
We are going to mark this channel.
1. green #1 leave to port.
2. red #2 leave to stbd
3. continue up with #3, #5 etc
4. next channel starts numbering over from #1 with dayboards
5. for secondary channel begin numbers over 1 2
Any questions about the IALA-B “lateral” system?
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

28. Preferred Channel Marks
Purpose: Marks junctions / bifurcations
Description:
Color: Red & Green horizontally banded (top color band is preferred channel)
Shape: Same as preferred channel (uppermost band is preferred channel)
Character: Letter not number.
Light: Same color as uppermost band.
Characteristic: Gp Fl (2+1) 6s
Bowditch pg / TM 4-28
TO SEA
JUNCTION BIFURCATION
energize 2+1 flashing lantern A
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

29. JUNCTION BIFURCATION CROSSING Two channels join to form one channel.
Preferred channel buoy is upstream.
BIFURCATION
One channel splits to form two channels.
Preferred channel buoy is downstream.
CROSSING
One channel crosses another channel.
No requirement to mark all four corners.
Bowditch pg / TM 4-28
TO SEA
JUNCTION BIFURCATION
energize 2+1 flashing lantern
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop 29

30. Junctions and Bifurcation Patterns

31. In the main (primary) channel, pass on your port side (to your left) returning from the sea. In the secondary channel, pass on your starboard side (to your right) – “Red Right Returning from the sea.”
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

32. You always have to reference your nautical chart! 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10
You always have to reference your nautical chart!
How do you know which is the main channel? BR
We are going to mark this channel.
1. green #1 leave to port.
2. red #2 leave to stbd
3. continue up with #3, #5 etc
4. next channel starts numbering over from #1 with dayboards
5. for secondary channel begin numbers over
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

33. Safe Water Mark all around the mark.
Purpose: Indicates navigable water
all around the mark.
Description:
Color: Red and White vertically striped.
Shape: Sphere or Buoy with Topmark.
Character: White letters.
(ex. “NC” North Channel)
Light Color: White
Characteristic: Mo(A)
4-5
usually the sea buoy / entrance buoy
We use a RED BALL for the topmark.
IALA states that spheres signifies a safe water mark.
U.S. uses a red/white striped aid.
This is to costly for us to change to a sphere, so we use the topmark to comply with the sphere requirement.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

34. Safe Water Marks MR Spherical Lighted and or sound
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

35. Lighted Safe Water Mark
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

36. Isolated Danger Mark
Purpose: Marks isolated dangers or obstructions that can be passed on all sides
Description:
Color: Black and Red horizontal bands.
Shape: Buoy with two black top marks.
Character: White Lettering – no numbers.
Light: White.
Light Characteristic: Gp Fl (2) 5s.
Bowditch pg / 4-5AM
This doesn’t have anything to do with the channel. This is off by itself.
Topmark is 2 black balls.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

37. Special Purpose Aids
Purpose: Not intended to assist safe navigation but to indicate special areas marked on charts (anchorages, traffic separation schemes, data gathering, etc)
Description:
Aid Color: Yellow.
Aid Shape: Various.
Characters: Black lettering, no numbers.
Light Color: Yellow
Light Characteristic: Fixed, Flashing (except Mo A, 2+1, Qk)
3-16TM / 4-5AM
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

38. Special Purpose Aids
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

39. 2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

40. Regulatory and Information Marks
Diamond - means danger and words may appear explaining the danger.
Called a Danger Buoy
Circle- means restricted operations.
Speed Buoys (5 MPH) or No Wake Buoys.
Diamond with a Cross - tells you that vessels are not allowed in the area.
Called Exclusion Buoys
Square - contains directions for the boater.
Bridge Regulatory Signs.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

41. Regulatory and Information Marks
What’s wrong with this picture?
Regulatory and Information Marks
DANGER
Restricted
Operations
Exclusion
Area
DANGER
If lighted
White only
No Cross inside the diamond

42. Regulatory and Information Marks
Purpose: Alert the mariner to such things as submerged pipes, no wake zones, etc.
Description:
Aid Color: White with orange band or border.
Shape: Square, Round, or Diamond.
Character: Lettering (black, usually words)
Light Color: White
Light Characteristic:
Anything not otherwise
reserved
3-24
Maintained by state and civilians. CG has some also.
Orange boarder is retro.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

43. Restricted Operations - Minimum Wake
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

44. Restricted Operations - Manatee Zone
Bridge Discrepancy Report
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

45. DANGER
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

46. Restricted Operations - No Wake
Check the
structure
and piles!
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

47. Restricted Operations Area
These are non-lateral aids.
The accuracy of the location of these aids is usually not a major issue.
The location of these aids in the navigable channel is considered a reportable discrepancy.
These aids are normally “Private.”
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

48. Restricted Operations - No Wake
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

49. Exclusion Area - No Anchoring
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

50. Definition of a Range A pair of beacons arranged so
that, when they are aligned, they
indicate the navigable center line of the channel.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

51. Range Marks KGW = Range, Green, with a White Stripe.
Purpose: Indicate the navigable center line of a channel when they are in line (aligned) as you traverse the channel.
Description:
Aid Color: They will have colored panels equal in size with vertical stripes.
Aid Shape: Rectangle with tall side up.
Aid Light - Green, Red, White or Yellow.
Front range light is lower of the two.
Rear range light is higher and further from the mariner.
KGW = Range, Green, with a White Stripe.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

52. Range Marks RR - Rear Range Mark FR – Front Range Mark
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

53. WRECK MARKS Purpose: To alert the mariner to wrecks. Description:
Aid Color: Appropriate to side of channel.
Aid Shape: Appropriate to side of channel.
Character: White lettering “WR”, numbered
in sequence with channel (WR2).
Aid Light: Same as buoy color.
Light Characteristic: Quick Flashing
(unless aid is a preferred channel aid)
4-36AM
This is part of the lateral system, and is numbered consecutively.
Can be red or green.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

54. LOCATION MARK
Some markers will have no lateral significance. They are not designed to indicate the channel but rather, to help you determine where you are.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

55. Is this a junction or a bifurcation?9 10 2 7 1 8 5 6 3
DANGER 2 3 N
Is this a junction or a bifurcation?
harbor picture
1. WHAT IS THIS. junction buoy - we have a primary & secondary channel. what does the junction buoy look like? Flashing characteristic?? explain preferred channel, leave to stbd
2. WHAT IS THIS. mid-channel buoy - what is this? what does it indicate? flashing characteristic?
3. WHAT IS THIS. Iso Danger mark - what is this? what does it indicate? flashing characteristic? rocks marked by ISO. Danger mark
4. WHAT IS THIS. anchorage area
5. WHAT IS THIS. information mark
6. WHAT IS THIS. range for channel
7. WHAT IS THIS. non-lateral - no lateral significance, not part of the channel.
8. sailboat comes in. SINKS. what markings do you put on the buoy? 1 2 A
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

56. Light Structures Major Lighthouses Minor Lights Not named
Are named. e.g. Boston Light
Symbol is large exclamation point.
Fixed position
Minor Lights
Not named
Same symbol
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

57. Boston Light
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

58. Inside the Boston Light tower.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

59. Other Lights
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

60. Understanding Light Patterns
Learn how to time a light.
1. Time multiple light cycles.
2. Divide the time by the number of cycles.

61. Light Patterns Fixed (F) – continuous, unblinking light
Flashing (Fl) – light duration shorter than darkness. Frequency not greater than 30 per minute.
Quick Flashing (Q) – light duration shorter than darkness. Frequency is at least 60 per minute.
Very Quick Flashing (VQ) – light duration shorter than darkness. Frequency is at least 100 per minute.
Interrupted Quick Flashing (IQ) – like quick flashing but having a brief, extended darkness period.
Isophase (Iso) – Light has equal duration between light and darkness. Period consists of both light and dark interval. Also called Equal Interval (E Int).
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

62. Light Patterns
Group Flashing (Gp Fl (x+x)) – Combination of two patterns in one period, i.e. 2 flashes followed by three flashes.
Occulting (Occ) – Opposite of flashing – light is on more than it is off.
Alternating (AL) – Alternating light changes color. Special purpose light for situations requiring significant caution. Example shows AL.WG…alternating white and green light.
Morse (Mo) – Morse code light signal. Example is Morse “U” which is two short flashes followed by one prolonged flash then a period of darkness. Shown as (Mo(U)) on charts.
Long Flashing (LFL) – One long flash in a period with lighted period of at least 2 seconds.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

63. Review the symbols and abbreviations on your NOAA chart for every aid that you check.
Report any discrepancies to the Coast Guard and as a chart update to NOAA.
Check that the charted symbols and abbreviations match your on-scene observations of the aid.

64. 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 aids.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

65. Symbols - Daymarks and Minor Lights
Green Daymark
Green square.
Red Daymark
Red triangle
Minor Light - Magenta exclamation mark
(teardrop with black dot)
Vertical letters used for fixed marks
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

66. Charted Symbols
Symbol data in quotes indicates that the characters appears on the aid.
Symbol data in italics indicates that the aid is floating.
Vertical symbol data indicates that the aid is fixed.
Always validate that the symbol shown on your chart matches the aid that you observe and the entry for the aid in the Light List.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

67. …that you do not understand?
Is there anything on this chart . . . 9 10 88 90 2 7 1 8 92 87 89 5 6 91 3
DANGER 2 3 N
properly set up channel
with tender at the pier. 1 2
…that you do not understand? A
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

68. ATON - Reference Materials
Local Notice to Mariners – LNM - online
Chart No. 1: Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations, and Terms - online
Light List – ME to New Jersey - online
Coast Pilot – ME to Cape Cod - online
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

69. Chart No. 1 Purpose is to help you identify ATONS
Standard conventions on all charts
Listed in Chart No. 1
On Line
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

70. Supports the Local Notice to Mariners
The Local Notice to Mariner is generated using the ATONIS Database
Chart Corrections
Discrepancies
Light List Changes
On line.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

71. Intracoastal Waterway
Begins in New Jersey.
Goes south to the Florida Keys.
Then north along the west coast of Florida.
Then west along the Gulf of Mexico to Brownsville, Texas.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

72. Intracoastal Waterway Marks
When aids in a channel are also used to identify an ICW channel.
The normal “Red right returning from the sea” rule applies to both.
Intracoastal Waterway Marks
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

73. Intracoastal Waterway Marks
Yellow triangles, squares and bands are used to identify ICW marks.
The material used is retroreflective.
Yellow triangles are usually displayed on red lateral marks used on the ICW.
Yellow squares usually are usually displayed on green lateral marks used on the ICW.
Yellow bands are displayed on non-lateral ATONS used on the ICW.
Intracoastal Waterway Marks
retroreflective
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

74. Aids marking the Intracoastal Waterway
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

75. Red Daymark/Minor Light with ICW Mark
ICW Triangle
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

76. Green Daymark/Minor Light with ICW Mark
ICW Square
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

77. Dual Purpose Marks
When aids in a channel are also used to identify an ICW channel.
The “Red right returning from the sea” rule applies to the regular aids.
The role for the regular aids is reversed and marked for ICW transit - - dual purpose.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

78. Dual Purpose Marks Are found on cans and nuns in the ICW.
Sometimes a yellow triangle appears on a can or square daymark or a yellow square appears on a nun or triangle daymark. The buoy has dual purpose.
To use the ICW, follow the yellow marks.
When following the local waterway, use the IALA-B lateral system marks.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

79. Intracoastal Waterway Marks
Dual Purpose Marks
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

80. Electronic Aids To Navigation
Loran-C
Obsolete
Not usable for positioning in the ATON program.
GPS - Global Positioning Systems
Differential GPS – used by Coast Guard.
WAAS - Wide Area Augmentation Systems
These are the preferred positioning systems.
Electronic Nautical Charts.
Integrated to GPS, RADAR, and Depth Sounder.
Must be supplemented with a NOAA paper chart.
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

81. The End
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

82. REVIEW
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop

83. properly set up channel with tender at the pier.9 10 88 90 2 7 1 8 92 87 89 5 6 91 3
DANGER 2 3 N
properly set up channel
with tender at the pier. 1 2 A
2003 Aids to Navigation Workshop