Channel Demarcation and Regulation Buoy Signals 2022

Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage
Marine Navigation
Signs, Lights, Fog Signals,

Buoys and Radio Beacons
1
Range
During this lesson we will cover the

following:
 The IALA buoyage system.
 The general & local direction of buoyage.
 The characteristics of the different buoys
& lights used in this system.

 Abbreviations used on charts.
IALA: International Association of Lighthouse Authorities

ALLFS: Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals 2
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 IALA: International Association of Lighthouse
Authorities
 Use ALLFS to a basic level
ALLFS: Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals
 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) 3
Marine Signs
Marine Signs are signs which use words and/or symbols to
convey information to vessels / ships / boats / watercraft.
As per United Nation’s Guidelines for Waterway Signs and
Marking, Resolution No. 59, ECE/TRANS/SC.3/169/Rev.1,
there are two categories of waterway signs;
1- signs used to regulate navigation on the waterway
2- signs and signals on the water and bank marks marking the
sides of the fairway and navigational hazards
15 knots -
4 knots - 8 knots - about 28
about 7km/h about km/h and is
or a fast 15km/hr used as the
walking or a fast Sydney
speed. jog. Harbour
Transit
https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2013/sc3wp3/ECE-TRANS-SC3-169-Rev1e.pdf
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/safety-rules/rules-regulations/navigation-marks-and-signs.html
Buoys
A buoy is a floating device that can have many purposes. It
can be anchored (stationary) or allowed to drift with ocean
currents.
There are several types of buoys, the two important ones are:
Safe water mark or Fairway Buoy – a
navigational buoy which marks the
entrance to a channel or a nearby
landfall
Emergency wreck buoy – An
Emergency Wreck Buoy provides a clear
and unambiguous means of marking
new wrecks.
This buoy is used as a temporary
response, typically for the first 24–72
hours. This buoy is coloured in an equal
number of blue and yellow vertical
stripes and is fitted with an alternating
blue and yellow flashing light.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buoy
Fog Signals
Fog signals are sound or light signal emitted in fog or mist by
lighthouses and buoys to indicate a shoreline, channel, or
dangerous stretch of water and by vessels to indicate their
position.
Each signal has a distinctive code. All vessels, whether stationary or
moving, are required by law to utilize fog signals in inclement weather; the
type, number, length, and timing of the signal indicate the size of the
vessel and its position. The nature and application of fog warnings is
codified in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
A foghorn is a fog signal that uses sound to warn vessels of

navigational hazards like rocky coastlines, or the presence of
other vessels, in foggy conditions. When visual navigation
aids such as lighthouses are obscured, foghorns provide an
audible warning of rock outcrops, shoals, headlands, or other
dangers to shipping.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/fog-signal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foghorn#Fog_Signal
Radio Beacons
A Radio beacon is a device a device which broadcast a radio
signal which is picked up by radio direction finding systems on
ships, aircraft and vehicles to determine the bearing to the
beacon.
They first appeared in the 1920s. They transmit in the
frequency band of 285–315 kilohertz.
In a characteristic signal lasting one minute, the station
identification, in Morse code, is transmitted two or three times,
followed by a period of continuous transmission during which
a bearing can be taken by a ship’s direction-finding receiver.
Bearing accuracy averages better than 3°. The frequency of
transmission varies in different parts of the world. In the busy
waters of Europe, radio beacons transmit continuously on a
number of different channels within the allotted frequency
band.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_beacon
https://www.britannica.com/technology/lighthouse#ref593083
Introduction
 Traffic lights and signs guide drivers on the
roads. Buoys and beacons and navigation
lights do the same on the water
 The International Association of Marine Aids
 Each type of mark has its own colour, shape,
top mark and light combination
 To navigate safely, you need to know each
mark and its meaning.
8
Aids to navigation
 Aids to navigation are special structures like
lighthouses, lightships, beacons, buoys, etc that are used
to enhance safety
 These lights and marks are prescribed across the world
by the International Association of Lighthouse
Authorities (IALA).
 All marks within the IALA system are distinguished by:
– Shape
– Colour
– Topmark
– Light
9
IALA
 International Association of Lighthouse
Authorities (IALA)
 Non-governmental body
 recommends improvements to
navigational aids based on the latest
technology
10
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
A marks are placed.
We are interested in Region A
A
B
A
B B
A
B A
B
A
B
A A
A
11
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
12
Light identification
 During daytime, the identification of aids to navigation is accomplished
by observing: location, shape, colour scheme, auxiliary features
(sound signals, RACON (Radar Transponder beacon), RC ( Radio
beacon circular), etc) or markings (name, number, etc).
 During the night, we use the features of the aid to navigation's light to
both identify it and ascertain its purpose. There are three features to
describe the light:
 Colour: Either white, red, green or yellow. If no colour is stated in the
chart, default is white.
 Period: The time in seconds needed for one complete cycle of
changes. The arrow indicates the 10 second
period of this flashing light “Fl(3) 10s”.
 Phase characteristic: The particular pattern of changes within one
complete cycle (hence, within one period). Below are the most common
types:
13
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
14
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
Starboard: the side of a ship or aircraft that is on the right when one is facing forward.
Channel
DIRECTION
OF BUOYAGE
15
 In narrow channels, all vessels should keep to
the starboard side of the channel.
16
Direction of Buoyage
 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
DIRECTION
OF BUOYAGE
17
 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
18
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:
Continuous-quick light Q.G

Single-flashing light Fl.G
Long-flashing light LFl.G
Group-flashing light Fl(2)G 19
A starboard mark is At night, a starboard buoy

green with a cone-like shows a green light (when
shape lit).
20
Port Lateral Marks
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:
Continuous-quick light Q.R

Single-flashing light Fl.R
Long-flashing light LFl.R
Group-flashing light Fl(2)R 21
A port mark is At night, a port buoy

red with a can-like shows a red flashing
shape light (when lit).
22
When travelling upstream or away from the sea:
 keep port (red) marks on your port-hand side
(left)
 keep starboard (green) marks on your
starboard-hand side (right).
When travelling downstream or towards the sea:
 keep port (red) marks on your starboard-hand
side (right)
 keep starboard (green) marks on your port-hand
side (left).
23
Cardinal mark features
Cardinal marks show where the deepest and
safest water is by using a compass. They can
mark:
 where to find the deepest water in an area
 the safe side to pass a danger
 a feature in a channel (for example, a bend,
junction or the end of a shoal).
24
 Cardinal marks have black and yellow bands
with black double cones on top showing the
different compass direction that identifies the
safest and deepest water to travel in.
 At night, each type of cardinal mark has a
flashing white light with different groupings of
flashes (continuous, or groups of 3, 6 or 9).
 To remember each type, think of a compass
face with the numbers of a clock marked on it
beside each direction (North, East, South and
West).
25
Cardinal Marks
POINT
W OF E
INTEREST
Note. Topmarks always point

S
towards black band
26
27
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

28
North Cardinal Mark
Colour Topmark
Top - Black Two black cones
N
Bottom - Yellow points upwards
POINT
W OF E
Retroreflector INTEREST
Blue over Yellow band Shape
S Pillar or spar
Light
Colour - White
Rhythm - Q or VQ
29
North cardinal mark
 North cardinal marks show there is safe
water to the North of the mark
The top cones point up or At night, the white light
North. flashes quickly or very
quickly and continuously.
30
East Cardinal Mark
Topmark
Two black cones
points away
Colour
Top - Black
N
Middle - Yellow
Bottom - Black POINT
W OF E
Two Blue bands
S
Shape
Pillar or spar Light
Colour - White
Rhythm - Q(3) or VQ(3)
31
South Cardinal Mark
Topmark
Two black cones
points downwards
Colour Light
Top - Yellow Colour - White
N
Bottom - Black Rhythm - Q(6)+LF or
POINT VQ(6)+LF
W OF E
Yellow over Blue band
S
Shape
Pillar or spar
32
West Cardinal Mark
Topmark
Two black cones
points together
(W for wineglass) Colour
Top - Yellow
N
Middle - Black
POINT Bottom - Yellow
W OF E
INTEREST Retroreflector
Two Yellow bands
S
Shape
Light Pillar or spar
Colour - White
Rhythm - Q(9) or VQ(9)
33
34
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.
Q or VQ
N
12
Q(9) or VQ(9) Q(3) or VQ(3)
W 9 3 E
Q(6)+LFl. or VQ(6)+LFl. 35
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
Group-flashing light Fl(2)
36
Safe Water Mark
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
Isophase Iso
Occulting Oc
Long Flash every 10 secs LFl. 10s
Morse Code A Mo(A)37
Special Marks
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.
Yellow Flashing light Fl. Y

Group-flashing light Fl(4)Y
38
IALA REGION B Lateral Marks
39
Emergency wreck marking buoy
 Emergency wreck marking buoys are used
to identify new dangers or wrecks.
 They have blue and yellow vertical stripes
and are a pillar or spar shape with a yellow
cross as the top mark.
• At night, the
flashing light
alternates between
1 second of blue
light and 1 second
of yellow light, with
0.5 seconds of
darkness in
between
40
Characteristics of Lights
 There are four main characteristics to a light
 RHYTHM
 COLOUR
 PERIOD
 INTENSITY
41
•Fixed F
This light shines with an unblinking and steady intensity and
is always on. In this example a yellow fixed light is shown.
•Flashing Fl:
The duration of the light is always less than the duration of
the darkness. The frequency does not exceed 30 times per
minute.
•Quick Flashing Q:
Again, the duration of quick flash is less than the darkness.
The frequency is at least 60 times per minute.
•Very Quick Flashing VQ:
Also here, the duration of very quick flash is less than the
darkness. The frequency is at least 100 times per minute
•Interrupted Quick Flashing IQ:

Like Quick Flashing with one moment of darkness in
one period.
•Isophase Iso:
This Light has equal duration between light and
darkness. A period consists of both a light and a dark
interval. Also called Equal Interval (E Int) 42
•Group Flashing Gp Fl(x+x):
This is actually a combination of two patterns in
one period. In this example the first 2 flashes followed
by the pattern of 3 flashes result in: Gp Fl(2+3).
•Occulting Occ:
Occulting is the opposite of flashing, the light is
more on then off.
•Alternating AL:
An alternating light changes colour. This special
purpose light is typically used for special applications
requiring the exercise of great caution. In this
example ALT.WG is shown, alternating between green
and white.
•Morse U Mo (U):
This light shows two flashes and a longflash, which
is equivalent to the letter “U” in Morse code.
•Long-Flashing LFl:
This light has one long flash in a period. A long
flash is at least 2 seconds long.
43
• Flashing , Fl (4) 8s
• Occulting , Oc (2+3) 10s
• Iso G 4s
44
 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
45
 COLOURS
W White
R Red
G Green
Y Yellow
Bu Blue
Vi Violet
If no colour is listed, the light is WHITE
46
 PERIOD
The period of a light is the time taken to
complete one full cycle of ON-and-OFF
changes.
47
 PERIOD
changes.
15 seconds
48
 PERIOD
changes.
15 seconds Fl (3) W 15s

49
 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.
50
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.
51
Lights
 The Intensity
– The brighter the light the further it can be seen.
52
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.
53
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).
54
 Geographical Range
– Range of a light taking into account the height
of a light and the height of the observer
55
of a light and the height of the observer
56
of a light and the height of the observer.
57
Chart Symbology
FL (4) 20s 15m 12M
58
Chart Symbology
White light
Flashing in a
group of 4
FL (4) 20s 15m 12M
59
Chart Symbology
White light
Flashing in a
group of 4
FL (4) 20s 15m 12M
Period
4 flashes every
20 second
60
Chart Symbology
White light
Flashing in a Luminous range
group of 4 12 Miles
FL (4) 20s 15m 12M
Period
4 flashes every
20 second
61
Chart Symbology
Elevation
15 metres above
M. H.W. S.
White light
Flashing in a Luminous range
group of 4 12 Miles
FL (4) 20s 15m 12M
Period
4 flashes every
20 second
62
 CHART EXAMPLES
63
 CHART EXAMPLES
 Fl (6) 30s
64
 CHART EXAMPLES
 Fl (6) 30s
– A group of 6 white flashes every 30
seconds
30 seconds
65
 CHART EXAMPLES
 Oc Y 12.5s
66
 CHART EXAMPLES
 Oc Y 12.5s
A Yellow light with one Occultation
every 12.5 seconds
12.5 seconds
67
 CHART EXAMPLES
 FG
68
 CHART EXAMPLES
 FG
– A fixed green light
69
 CHART EXAMPLES
 Iso R
70
 CHART EXAMPLES
 Iso R
– A red light with an equal duration of light
and darkness (Isophase)
71
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
72
Fog Signals
 Abbreviations of fog signals found on
charts.
 Dia
 Siren
 Reed
 Explos
 Bell
 Gong
 Whis
 Horn 73
Diaphone fog horn House fog siren installation
The fog bell
74
Leads
 Leading lights/beacons usually display a triangle
shape. The front lead has its apex pointing up and
the rear or back lead has its apex pointing down.
 When the leads are in line, you are travelling in the
middle of the channel. Where leads are used to mark
the middle of larger shipping channels small vessels
should travel on the starboard side of the channel to
keep clear of large ships. This is especially important
at night.
 Fixed white day lights are sometimes used to mark
the leads. At night, major leads are usually lit with
blue lights
75
Blue middle channel mark
 Blue middle channel marks are fixed blue
lights that mark the middle of the channel for
vessels passing under a bridge.
 On a chart, they are normally shown as a
star with a flash symbol
76
Directional and sector lights
 Directional and sector lights have a similar
purpose to leading lights at channel
entrances and inshore waters.
 Directional lights can be used as steering
marks and sector lights display a light of
different colours (usually green, white and
red).
77
Port traffic signal lights
 Port traffic signal lights have 3 red vertical
flashing lights that are remotely controlled by
Maritime Safety Queensland’s vessel traffic
services to tell others in the area that large
commercial ships are moving in the port,
harbour, marina or other confined waterway.
 Vessels must not enter or depart the port or
harbour area when the port traffic signal
lights are flashing.
78
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.
 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)
79

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Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage

Signs, Lights, Fog Signals,

During this lesson we will cover the

 The general & local direction of buoyage.

 The characteristics of the different buoys

& lights used in this system.

IALA: International Association of Lighthouse Authorities

A foghorn is a fog signal that uses sound to warn vessels of

Continuous-quick light Q.G

A starboard mark is At night, a starboard buoy

Continuous-quick light Q.R

A port mark is At night, a port buoy

 the safe side to pass a danger

 a feature in a channel (for example, a bend,

junction or the end of a shoal).

Note. Topmarks always point

Pass to the west of the cardinal

Group-flashing light Fl(2)

Yellow Flashing light Fl. Y

•Interrupted Quick Flashing IQ:

15 seconds Fl (3) W 15s

 The intensity of the light

– The brighter the light the further it can be seen.

FL (4) 20s 15m 12M

The fog bell

 The general & local direction of buoyage.

 The characteristics of the different buoys & lights used in

 You should now be able to:

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