BUOYAGE TEACHING RESOURCES:
A note about Lateral marks:
IALA = International Association of Lighthouse Authorities
IALA A = UK & rest of the world excluding areas noted in IALA B
IALA B = USA, Japan, North & South Korea and the Phillipines
LATERAL MARKS
IALA A Starboard Lateral Mark
Marks the right hand side of a channel leading into a harbour/estuary.
Light Sequence: Flashes green (various sequences, dependant on area - refer to chart)
IALA B Starboard Lateral Mark
Light Sequence: Flashes Red (various sequences (other than 2+1), dependant on area - refer to chart)
IALA A Port Lateral Mark
Marks the left hand side of a channel leading into a harbour/estuary.
Light sequence: Flashes red (various sequences, dependant on area - refer to chart)
Ways to remember: (IALA A):
Side - No port left in the bottle
Shape - Can of coke
IALA B Port Lateral Mark
Light Sequence: Flashes Green (various sequences except 2+1, dependant on area, refer to chart)
Preferred channel to Starboard mark
Tells us: You can go either side, but starboard is the preferred channel.
IALA A Light sequence: Red flashes 2 + 1
IALA B Light Sequence: Green flashes 2 + 1
Preferred channel to Port mark
Tells us: You can go either side, but port is the preferred channel.
IALA A Light sequence: Green flashes 2 + 1 (2 flashes then a gap, then 1 flash, then a longer gap)
IALA B Light Sequence: Red Flashes 2 +1
CARDINAL MARKS
North Cardinal Mark
Tells us: Safe water to the North
Light sequence: White light either Quick or Very quick flashes continuously.
Ways to remember: Top arrows point up (North). Black arrows point to where the black is painted on the main buoy.
South Cardinal Mark
Tells us: Safe water to the South
Light sequence: White light either Quick or Very Quick flashes x 6 + 1 long
Ways to remember: Top arrows point down (south). Black arrows point to where the black is painted on the main buoy i.e. black arrows pointing down so black is painted on the bottom of the buoy.
East Cardinal Mark
Tells us: Safe water to the East
Light sequence: White light either Quick or Very quick flashes x 3.
Ways to remember: Top arrows creat the shape of an Easter Egg. Black arrows point to where the black is painted on the main buoy - a 'posh' Easter Egg will have yellow ribbon wrapped around the middle.
West Cardinal Mark
Tells us: Safe water to the West
Light sequence: White light either Quick or Very quick flashes x 9.
Ways to remember: Top arrows create the shape of a Waist or Wine glass. Black arrows point to where the black is painted on the main buoy - a 'Waist' wears a belt therefore there is a black belt painted onto the buoy.
A note about Cardinal marks:
The light sequences of all cardinal marks can be made easy to remember by refering to a clock face and the relative locations of the buoys.
OTHER BUOYS:
Isolated Danger Mark
Marks an area of isolated danger - keep away!
Light sequence: Flashes white x 2
Ways to remember:
'You've made a 'Balls up' if you go near it
Dennis the Menace stripes (naughty cartoon character)
Special Mark
Tells us: An area of special interest - refer to chart for more information, can mark areas such as Oyster beds, Waterski areas, Swimming areas etc.
Light sequence (if it has one): Yellow flashing (various sequences depending on area - refer to a chart)
Safe water mark
Tells us: An area of safe water
Light sequence: White (various sequences - check chart for details)
Ways to remember: Circus tent = Fun/Good things!
Emergency Wreck Mark
Tells us: Marks a new wreck or obstruction until a permanent form of marking can be deployed.
Light sequence: Alternating blue and yellow 1 second flashes with an interval of 0.5 seconds.
Light Identification & Abbreviations:
F = Fixed (Steady constant light)
Fl = Flashing (Single flashing)
Q = Continuous quick
VQ = Continuous Very Quick
Oc = Single Occulting (More light than dark)
Iso = Isophase (Equal light & dark)
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