Buoyage

BUOYAGE - deck-officer.com

Pick from the menus above to gain more information on the IALA Buoyage system.

The IALA buoyage system is split into 2 regions A and B. Region B is mostly areas of the world with American influence, Region A is mostly countries with United kingdom influence.

REGION A

LATERAL (CHANNEL MARKS)


Light - red any except 2+1	Light - green any except 2+1
Preferred channel

channel to Stbd Light - red 2+1	channel to port Light - Green 2+1

REGION B

LATERAL (CHANNEL MARKS)


Light - green any except 2+1	Light - red any except 2+1


channel to Stbd Light - green 2+1	channel to port Light - red 2+1

The shape of the buoy determines which type of mark it is throughout both regions going in the direction of the buoys can shapes are left to port and cone shapes are left to Stbd.

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All other Buoys in the system are the same not matter which region they are in.

Cardinal Marks - indicate safe water in the quadrant 45 degrees either side of the cardinal they represent as shown below

	North

West	Light quick or very quick	East
	Light is white
Light group flash 9 quick or very quick		Light group flash 3 quick or very Quick
	South Light flash 6+1 Quick or vquick
retro tape	N -blue over black E - blue over blue S - yellow over blue W - yellow yellow

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Other Buoys the same in both Regions

Isolated Danger mark

indicating a danger directly below the buoy

Light - White group Flash 2

retro tape blue over red

Safe water Mark

indicating safe water all around the buoy

Light - White - Isophase or occulting
or long flash or Morse A

retro tape red over or next to white

The Final set of buoys in the IALA system are the special marks they are used to indicate a special feature the buoy can be any shape but is painted yellow and has a yellow light that cannot be confused with any other light in the area.

Its top mark is optional but is a yellow cross as shown below

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