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

BeaconsDaymark

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?