Navigation
NAU 102
Lesson 10
Buoy LabelsBuoys may be numbered or lettered for
ease of identification.
Port hand buoys = odd numbers
Starboard buoys = even numbers
Numbers increase from seaward.
“Even Red Nuns have Odd Green Cans”
Buoy Labels
Buoy Labels
All other buoys may be lettered.
E.g. “CBJ” = Chesapeake Bay Junction
Buoy Sounds
Buoys may be fitted with sound devices.
Bells – one tone, caused by buoy movement.
Gongs – multiple tones, caused by buoy movement.
Buoy Sounds
Whistle – moaning sound, caused by buoy movement.
Horn – electronic tone.
In calm seas, might not hear bell, gong or whistle buoys.
Buoy Lights
Color and Phase Characteristics are important.
Color: Lateral Marks - Red or Green
Optional equipment for buoys.
Special Marks - Yellow
All Other Marks - White
Buoy Lights
Phase Characteristics
Pattern of alternating flashes and eclipses (dark periods)
Enables identification of specific marks in the dark.
See table 506 in Bowditch.
Buoy Lights
Port & Starboard Lateral Marks
Any phase characteristic other than Comp. GpFl (2+1)
Buoy Lights
Junction & Bifurcation Marks
Comp. GpFl (2+1)
Buoy LightsSafe Water Marks
Buoy LightsIsolated Danger Marks
Buoy LightsSpecial Marks
Buoy Lights
Cardinal Marks
Other Buoy Systems
Mooring Buoys
Information and Regulatory
Marks
Other Buoy Systems
Uniform State Waterway Marking System
(USWMS)
For lakes and inland
waterways.
BeaconsFixed Marks
Mounted ashore or in shallow water
Lighted Beacon = “Light”
No light = “Daybeacon”
“Daymark” – the sign or structure enabling identification by day
Day BeaconsShape & Color have meaning
Green to port.
(IALA – B)
Squares to port.
Day BeaconsShape & Color have meaning
Red to starboard.
(IALA – B)
Triangles to starboard.
Day Beacons
Safewater Special
Isolated Danger
Red & Black Diamond
Intracoastal Waterway
Buoys & Daymarks with yellow stripes.
Used only on ICW1
Intracoastal Waterway
1Yellow rectangle or square = port side
of ICW
Yellow triangle = starboard side of ICW
Indicate dual use
Buoys & Daymarks with yellow shapes.
Intracoastal Waterway
Ranges
Two objects, when in line, indicate a specific line of position.
E.g. Mark when in center of a
channel
Can be lighted or day beacons.
Ranges
Ranges
Ranges
If range is ahead, left of track
If range is astern, right of track
Lights
Major Lights
Primary Seacoast – major lights that give early indication of landfall
High intensity lights on a fixed structure.
Secondary Lights – mark harbor entrances
LightsPrimary Seacoast Light
Lights
Minor Lights
Smaller, low-intensity lights within a harbor, marking a channel, etc.
Includes lighted buoys, range lights, etc.
Range Lights
Lights
Red = move to stbd.
Directional lights – use colored lenses to show narrow beams of colored lights.
Green = move to port
Lights
Usually mark hazards.
Sector lights – use colored lenses to show different color at various bearings.
Stay out of the red sector!
Bearings stated in Light List as seen from vessel.
Sector Lights
Lights
Bridge Lights
Red lights – piers and closed drawbridge.
Green lights – deep channels and open drawbridges.
Light Characteristics
Lights have color and phase characteristics that aid
identification.
See Bowditch Ch. 5
Introduction to Navigation
Questions?
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