Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage

Buoyage

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Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage

Range
During this lesson we will cover the following:

The IALA buoyage system Region A & B. The general & local direction of buoyage. The characteristics of the different buoys & lights used in this system.

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Objectives
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By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

Identify lights, fog signals, and IALA Buoyage System (Region A & B) by day and night. State the meaning of and identify general light characteristics Determine the meaning of and be able to pass the safe side of IALA Buoyage (Region A & B)

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IALA
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International Association of Lighthouse Authorities

Founded 1957 based in France Non-governmental body Recommends improvements to navigational aids based on the latest technology

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History
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January 11th 1971: the cargo ship Paracas collided with the tanker Texaco Caribbean which blew in two and sank close west of the Varne Bank off Folkestone, in the south west traffic lane of the TSS. Trinity House vessel Siren anchored close to the wreck's position with the appropriate wreckmarking signals and lights hoisted. Appropriate information broadcasts were made by the coast guard station, and by the coastal radio stations at North Foreland and Niton. January 12th: the cargo vessel Brandenburg swept past Siren at full speed, ripped her bottom open on the Texaco Caribbean and sank rapidly. In the ensuing few days Siren was joined by other vessels and the wreck area was surveyed and marked by seven wreck buoys. January 27th: the Niki steamed right through the area and, opening her bottom like a tin can, sank on top of the two previous vessels. More than fifty lives were lost overall. Clearly the existing system of buoyage was not working, IALA decided to standardise the national buoyage systems into an international system.
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IALA BUOYAGE REGIONS A & B
A A B B A A
1973 IALA met and divided the World into two Buoyage regions - A & B

B B A

B B A
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A
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The IALA System
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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
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IALA Buoyage system A
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To meet the requirements of the system five different types of mark are provided.
Lateral Cardinal Isolated danger Safe water Special marks

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Lateral Marks
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Lateral marks are generally used for well defined channels in conjunction with direction of buoyage. They indicate the limits of channels on the port and starboard sides

Channel

DIRECTION OF BUOYAGE
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Direction of Buoyage
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Local Direction of Buoyage - The direction taken by the Mariner

when approaching a harbour, river, estuary or other waterway from seaward. IALA A - entering harbour, port hand buoys on the port side and starboard in the starboard side.

Channel

DIRECTION OF BUOYAGE
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Direction of Buoyage
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Local Direction of Buoyage - The direction taken by the Mariner

when approaching a harbour, river, estuary or other waterway from seaward. IALA B - entering harbour, port hand buoys on the port side and starboard in the starboard side. But the colours are reversed.

Channel

DIRECTION OF BUOYAGE
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q

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

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Starboard Lateral Marks (Region A)
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 Single-flashing light Long-flashing light Group-flashing light

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Q.G Fl.G LFl.G Fl(2)G

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Port Lateral Marks (Region A)
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 Single-flashing light Long-flashing light Group-flashing light

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Q.R Fl.R LFl.R Fl(2)R

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Lateral Marks REGION B
Same shape but the colours are reversed

Can-shape always indicates a port hand lateral mark, in Region A or B Conical-shape always indicates a starboard hand lateral mark, in Region A or B
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Preferred Channel Marks (Region A)

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Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage

Preferred Channel Marks (Region A)

Same shape and colour but with a green or red band Light: Group Flash 2+1
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Preferred Channel Marks (Region B)

Light: Group Flash 2+1

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NE
N
POINT OF INTEREST

NW

Cardinal Marks

E
Note. Topmarks always point towards black band

SE

SW

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Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage

Cardinal marks are used are used in conjunction with a compass to indicate where the Mariner may find navigable water

Pass to the west of the cardinal

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Colour Top Black Bottom - Yellow Retroreflector Blue over Yellow band
W

N
POINT OF INTEREST

Light Colour - White Rhythm - Q or VQ

SE
SW
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NE

NW

North Cardinal Mark

Topmark Two black cones points upwards

Shape Pillar or spar

Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage

Colour Top Black Middle - Yellow Bottom - Black Retroreflector Two Blue bands Shape Pillar or spar
SW
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N
POINT OF INTEREST

Light Colour - White Rhythm - Q(3) or VQ(3)

SE
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NE

NW

East Cardinal Mark

Topmark Two black cones bases together

Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage

Colour Top Yellow Bottom - Black Retroreflector Yellow over Blue band Shape Pillar or spar
SW
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N
POINT OF INTEREST

Light Colour - White Rhythm - Q(6)+LF or VQ(6)+LF

NE

NW

South Cardinal Mark

Topmark Two black cones points downwards

SE
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NE

NW

West Cardinal Mark

Topmark Two black cones points together
(W for wineglass) N
POINT OF INTEREST

Colour Top Yellow Middle - Black Bottom - Yellow Retroreflector Two Yellow bands Shape Pillar or spar
SE
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Light Colour - White Rhythm - Q(9) or VQ(9)

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SW

Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage

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)
W 9 3 E

Q(3) or VQ(3)

6 S

Q(6)+LFl. or VQ(6)+LFl.
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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
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Fl(2)
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Lights, Fog Signals & Buoyage

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 Occulting Long Flash every 10 secs Morse Code A

Iso Occ LFl. 10s Mo(A) 28

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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 Group-flashing light

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Fl. Y Fl(4)Y
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SS RICHARD MONTGOMERY
Anchored in the Thames Estuary, August 1944, to wait for her convoy to Cherbourg but dragged anchor and grounded. Much of her cargo of munitions was recovered before the hull cracked and she flooded but there are still approximately 1,400 tons of explosives contained within the forward holds.

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SS RICHARD MONTGOMERY

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Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy
14th December 2002: Tricolor collides with Kariba and sinks

16th December 2002: The Nicola hits the submerged Tricolor 1st January 2003: Cargo ship Vicky runs onto the Tricolor

Sounds Familiar?!?!?!?!?
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Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy
On trial 2006-2010 Temporary response, first 24-72 hours, or until wreck known, surveyed and permanently marked May have Racon D and/or AIS fitted Alternating yellow and blue flashing light: 1 sec s 1 sec s 1 sec s 1 sec s 1 sec33

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Summary
During this lesson we have covered the following:
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The IALA buoyage system Region A & B. The general & local direction of buoyage. The characteristics of the different buoys & lights used in this system.
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THE END

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