IALA Buoyage System – Best Easy-to-Understand Guide

by Gibi | Last updated Nov 24, 2023 | Navigation, Shipboard Operations | 0 comments

Like traffic lights, road signs, markings, retro-reflectors, and early warning devices,
seafarers also use similar arrangements in waterways aimed at the safety of
navigation.
We call them the IALA Buoyage Systems or the International Association of
Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.
The IALA Buoyage Systems are sets of rules dedicated to buoys, lighthouses,
light floats, and various watermarks.
Included in that system are their shapes, colors, top marks, lights, and light
characteristics to organize the safe movements of vessels.
These buoys can either be fixed objects or anchored at or near the points of
interest.
Contents Overview

History
The earliest known method for establishing a uniform system of buoyage dates
back to 1889.
Certain countries agreed that the port side channel be marked with black color
can buoys while the starboard channel with red conical buoys.
However, it didn’t go well when they introduced lights into the buoys. The
Americans started placing red lights on red buoys while Europeans placed red
lights on the black port hand buoys.
There were many attempts to re-establish such standards. One of them was in
1936 when they introduced the Cardinal and Lateral Systems under the League of
Nations.
But as with many other attempts, many countries did not conform and continued
their own buoyage systems for the reason that they were not assignation to that
assembly.

Int

ernational Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities

What is IALA
IALA is a non-profit organization focusing on the safe and efficient movements of
vessels through standardized Aids to Navigation.
Established in 1957, IALA is the only technical organization for marine aids to
navigation. It has hundreds of members worldwide with all of them aiming to
harmonize maritime buoyage systems.
There is a common misconception among seafarers as they tend to interpret IALA
as the buoyage system.

The IALA Buoyage System.

 For clarification, IALA creates the buoyage system used in sea lanes all over the
world.
They standardize the positioning, size, types, color, top marks, lights, and
signals of buoys that aid ships in their passage in and out of ports.
Currently, IALA divides the world into two regions of buoyage namely Region A and
Region B.
Types of Marks
IALA identifies six different marks as part of the buoyage systems to promote safe
navigation.
They have specific shapes, sizes, colors, top marks, retro-reflective properties, light
characteristics, numbers, and sound properties.
Since some of these aids are fixed, they can also be used for position fixing when
conducting marine navigation near the coast.
Here are the following.
1. Lateral Marks
Lateral marks indicate the port and starboard side of the channel in a direction
with the conventional flow of the voyage. It’s easy to spot them because they use
red and green colors.
In this system, there are two regions one must be aware of before entering any
ports or harbors.
You must identify which area or country your ship is sailing in to determine if you
will use Region A or Region B.
This is usually the job of the Second Mate but as part of the bridge team, you
must also verify if what he’s written is true.
Region A
Region A sets red buoys on the port side and green buoys on the starboard
side of the vessel when she is inbound at a port or terminal.
When outbound, the ship’s starboard side will now have red buoys while her
port side will have green buoys.
Countries using Region A Buoyage Systems are the following:
 Africa
 Australia
 Europe
 India
 New Zealand
 The Gulfs, and
 Most of Asia.
 IALA Buoyage Region A.
Region B
Region B is the opposite of the latter.
When a ship is entering a port or channeling from the sea to her berth, she
must set red buoys on her starboard side and green buoys on her port side.
Countries using Region B Buoyage Systems are the following:
 North America
 Central America
 South America
 North and South Korea
 Japan, and
 The Philippines.
In both regions, one must be aware of preferred channel marks which can be
found when a channel bifurcates in two directions.
IALA Buoyage Region B.
2. Cardinal Marks
Cardinal marks indicate the best navigable water against a particular danger
or point of interest close to the mark itself.
We call them as such because they make use of the points or quadrants of a
compass to indicate the safe side to pass.
Cardinal marks use yellow and black colors and double cone marks black
arranged in certain manners.
To use these marks, you are safe if you pass North of a North Cardinal
Buoy, South of a South Cardinal Buoy, East of an East Cardinal Buoy, and West of
a West Cardinal Buoy.
Cardinal Marks.
The top marks for North and South Cardinal Buoys are very easy to identify.
However, the East and West marks can be quite confusing.
To help you out, I use these techniques to recognize them separately. I got it from
my Chief Officer when I was still a deck cadet.
For West Cardinal Mark, W stands for WINE GLASS. I’m associating it with its top
mark.
For its body color, upon reciting them as yellow-black-yellow, I immediately
associate them with West since (the last color) yellow ends in W!
After mastering that, the East Cardinal buoy is just easy to spot.
Light Signals
During nighttime, you can tell their light signals by comparing them to a clock, the
North mark being 12 O’clock and so on.
The North mark has continuous flashing lights, the East mark has three,
the West mark with 9, and the South has six flashes plus a long flash at the
end.
3. Isolated Danger Marks
An isolated danger mark indicates a hidden danger to ships like shoals, wrecks,
submerged rocks, or any obstruction that has navigable water around it.
These dangers may be well offshore or close to the shore but separated by a
narrow channel like shoals.
In both regions using IALA, an isolated danger mark has a black color with a red
band in the middle. It also has two big black balls displayed vertically.
Isolated Danger Marks of IALA Regions A & B.
4. Safe Water Marks
We usually find this mark installed as a landfall buoy, mid-channel mark,
centerline mark, or to point to the best area of passage in a fixed bridge.
A safe water mark indicates navigable waters all around the mark.
It has a red and white vertical stripe, either shaped as a spar or pillar with a
single red sphere as a top mark.
A Safe Water Mark.
5. Special Marks
Special marks indicate an area in the sea with specific purposes, the nature of
which is displayed on the relevant charts.
These features include military exercise zones, recreation zones, ODAS
buoys, spoil grounds, and many others.
Special marks are yellow-colored buoys with an “X” top mark (also yellow)
and a yellow flashing light.
Navigators encountering such marks must check the relevant charts as to the
details of their placements.
 Special Marks of

IALA A and B.
6. Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy
Emergency wreck marking buoys initially indicate newly discovered
dangers which are not yet shown on nautical documents.
This buoy is clear, unambiguous, and highly conspicuous. We can find them
positioned as close to the hazard as possible. It is deployed within the first 72
hours of the wreckage.
One of its features is blue and yellow stripes with an upright yellow cross top
mark. On top of that, it has an alternating blue and yellow light.
The creation of this type of mark occurred later than the previous five. It happened
when a collision between two ships left one of them underwater in 2002.
 Emergen

cy Wreck Marking Buoy.

Soon after, a vessel passing by hit the sunken wreck which was already marked.
Then again, another ship struck the same wreck which happened in the Strait of
Dover.
Authorities normally remove emergency wreck marking buoys when they make a
proper marking of the obstacle.
Additionally, relevant organizations published the wreck in nautical documents
with the establishment of a full survey of the danger.
Buoyage Uniformity
The IALA Buoyage Systems have played a pivotal role in standardizing the use of
buoys, lighthouses, and other navigational aids worldwide.
It was established with the primary goal of enhancing the safety and efficiency of
maritime navigation
These systems, categorized into Region A and Region B, have brought much-
needed uniformity to the shapes, colors, and markings of these vital maritime aids.
May the winds be in your favor

BUOYAGE BACKGROUND INFORMATION

There are 12 buoys in total in the system and they are split into categories of mark which will
be explained in full as you go through the course. There is slight difference between IALA
Version A & B which is explained below.
IALA

All buoys around the world are designed and governed by the same authority. This is the
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities or IALA.

IALA is a non profit organisation whose purpose is to harmonise aids to navigation worldwide
in an effort to promote safe cooperation.

When it comes to buoyage specifically, IALA helps to determine the colour and size of buoys
and also their format around the world. Buoys are split into two different geographic systems
known as IALA version A and IALA version B.

Essentially America, the Caribbean, Japan and the Philippines subscribe to version B and the
rest of the world subscribe to version A.

So what’s the difference?

In IALA A, such as is in the United Kingdom, the marks that denote the edges of a channel as
you enter from the open sea are a red port can on the left hand side and a green starboard cone
on the right hand side.

In the case of IALA B, the colours of the lateral marks are reversed but the shapes remain the
same. Therefore, as you come into a channel from the open sea, there will be a green port can
on the left and a red starboard cone on the right.

Everything else in the buoyage system is the same between IALA A and B.

IALA A Red port can

 IALA A green starboard cone
The different categories of buoy are:

1. Lateral Marks – these include the buoys that mark the edges of a channel and also ones that
denote the main thoroughfare or direction of the channel
2. Cardinal Marks – these mark the direction of safe water so as to avoid a hazardous area
3. Isolated Danger – an individual hazard
4. Safe Water or Fairway – the start / end of a buoyed harbour
5. Temporary Wreck – marking a fresh shipwreck
6. Special Marks – anything not covered by the rest of the buoys

Lateral Marks – Port & Starboard

There are four different buoys in the Lateral Marks category. These are port and
starboard marks. Red port cans on the port side (left side) and green starboard
cones on the starboard side (right side) indicate the limits of a channel. They are
placed so that red is on the left as you are entering a harbour from the open sea.

The magenta symbol at the bottom indicates the direction of buoyage. You will
find this symbol on navigational charts.

Preferred Channel Marks

The other two types of buoy in this category are preferred channel marks. These
denote the main thoroughfare or route through a harbour when it is not
immediately obvious. Take a look at the diagram of a channel below:
Preferred channel to starboard.

As expected, we can see red port cans on the left of the channels and green
starboard cones on the right of the channels.

Where the channel forks though it wouldn’t be immediately obvious to a skipper or

captain of a vessel which way they should go. The preferred channel mark (red
with the green stripe) is directing vessels to starboard.

A way to remember this is as follows. The preferred channel mark in the diagram
is a red buoy. It just has a green stripe on it too. Red buoys go on the port side of
the channel so we should keep it on the port side of our vessel.

Importantly, these are preferred channel marks which denote the main
thoroughfare. We can go to the other side of them but we will be going into
something. That may be an anchorage, a marina or a boatyard etc.

So what if the preferred channel is to port? Take a look at the next image:
Prefer red channel to port.

Here’s the same channel except this time it has a preferred channel to port mark.
Remember, it is still a green starboard cone, which we leave on the starboard side
of our vessel.

Lights for lateral marks

Lights for port and starboard marks are red and green respectively. Red lights for
port buoys and green lights for starboard buoys. They can be almost any rhythm
or pattern as well.

For example, the could flash once every 5 seconds, or twice every 6 seconds etc.
Whatever the pattern, you will see these written on the chart next to the chart
symbols.

Fl 2 R 10s would mean flashing 2 red lights in every 10 second period

QR would mean a quick red light

Fl 3 G 5s would mean flashing 3 green lights in every 5 second period.

As mentioned earlier these lights can be almost any pattern. The one pattern that
they can’t flash is known as 2+1.

This pattern of 2 flashes, then a pause, followed by one flash is reserved for
preferred channel marks.

A preferred channel to starboard mark is red with a green stripe on it. As it is

predominately a red buoy, it flashes with a red light. Rhythm 2+1.

A preferred channel to port mark is a green buoy with a red stripe on it. Therefore
it flashes with a green light. Rhythm 2+1.
Cardinal Marks
Buoys Navigational Buoys – What The Signs Mean Cardinal Marks

There are four cardinal marks and they indicate the direction of safe water if there
is a hazardous area nearby. They are called Cardinals because there is one for
each of the cardinal points of a compass. North, South, East and West. Take a look
at the diagram below:

Starting at the top of the diagram then, a north cardinal is saying, “Stay north of
me, the danger is to the south”. It has two upward pointing cones as a top mark.
Pointing to the top of the compass, which is north.

Let’s move clockwise to the east cardinal. This is saying, “Stay east of me, the
danger is to the west”. The top mark has two cones pointing away from each other.
To help you remember this, the cones look like an Easter Egg!

Next, the south cardinal is saying, “Stay south of me, the danger is to the north”. As
it’s opposite to the north cardinal and at the bottom of the compass, it has two
downward pointing cones as a top mark.

Finally the west cardinal is saying, “Stay west of me, the danger is to the east”. The
top mark has two cones pointing towards each other. To help you remember this,
the top mark looks like a Waist or a Wine glass. Both of which start with a ‘W’ for
west.
Regarding the colours of the cardinal marks, they are obviously all black and
yellow. Closer attention will show you that the top mark cones indicate where the
black areas will be.

North Cardinal – two upward pointing cones – black top half

East Cardinal – one up, one down – black at the top and bottom with a yellow
band in the middle (an Easter Egg has a yellow ribbon)

South Cardinal – two downward pointing cones – black bottom half

West Cardinal – two inward pointing cones – black band in the middle

An important note about cardinal marks in real life is that you won’t necessarily
see all four around a hazard. For example, a single south cardinal could be telling
to stay south of a rocky shore.

Lights for Cardinal Marks

A North Cardinal has a continuous flashing white light. This light is either quick or
very quick. It would be shown on a chart as either Q or VQ.
 An East Cardinal displays three white flashes. These are either quick or very quick.
The lights will be displayed in either a 5 second or a 10 second time period
depending on their speed. The ways this would be depicted on a chart are:

 VQ 3 5s – This would be 3 very quick white flashes in a 5 second period.

 Q 3 10s – This would be 3 quick white flashes in a 10 second period.

A South Cardinal shows 6 white flashes followed by a long white flash. These can
again be quick or very quick. They will be in either a 10 second or 15 second time
period respectively.

The reason they have a long flash after the 6 white flashes is to prevent it being
easily confused with any other light.

The ways in which the light will be depicted on a chart are either:

 VQ6+ 1 L Fl 10s
 Q6+ 1 L Fl 15s

Finally a West Cardinal displays 9 white flashes. These are again quick or very quick
and they are in either a 10 or 15 second time period.

 VQ9 10s
 Q9 15s

Isolated Danger Mark

Buoys Navigational Buoys – What The Signs Mean Isolated Danger Mark

An isolated danger mark differs from cardinals in as much as they are both
indicating danger but different types. A cardinal mark indicates an area of danger
whereas an isolated danger mark indicates a lone obstruction such as a rock.

In theory you can circle around an isolated danger mark. However, always check
the chart and surrounding area before you try it.
The isolated danger mark is black and red horizontal stripes. (you may remember
the Beano character Dennis the Menace).

It has two black balls as a top mark. If you hit it, it’s a balls up!

Light for an Isolated Danger Mark

The light for this mark is a white flashing light. It will flash twice in every 10 second
period. On a chart this would be denoted as 2 Fl 10s.

Safe Water Mark / Fairway Buoy

Buoys Navigational Buoys – What The Signs Mean Safe Water Mark /
Fairway Buoy

This mark has two names as it can be looked at two ways. For instance, it is
sometimes called a Safe Water Mark because as a vessel leaves a buoyed area,
there is nothing but open sea ahead.

As a vessel enters an area of buoyage from the open sea this mark can be referred
to as a Fairway Buoy. It marks the start of a buoyed channel or harbour. Just like a
fairway in the game of golf.

The purpose of the safe water mark is simply to denote the limit of a buoyed
harbour.

The mark has red and white vertical stripes which alternate all the way round. It’s
top mark, if fitted, is a red ball.
 Lights for a safe water mark

There are a total of four possible light combinations for this particular buoy and all
of them are white.

The pattern will be one of the following shown with their chart abbreviations:

 A long flash every 10 seconds – L Fl 10s

 Occulting – Occ (more light than dark)
 Isophase – Iso (equal periods of light and dark)
 Morse A – Mo (A) which is a dot followed by a dash

Temporary Wreck Mark

Buoys Navigational Buoys – What The Signs Mean Temporary Wreck Mark

A temporary wreck mark is for use in an emergency situation. If a vessel were to

sink, for whatever reason, one of these would be anchored over the wreck site.
This should hopefully act as a warning to other vessels. It will prevent them from
driving into the sunken vessel and becoming a wreck themselves.

If the wrecked ship is large then a ring of these temporary wreck marking buoys
will be anchored around it.
The buoy has blue and yellow vertical stripes that alternate around it. It’s top mark
is a yellow cross like a plus sign in maths.

One fact that separates these marks from the rest of the buoys is that you will
never find a chart symbol for it. This is because it is a temporary mark and not a
permanent feature.

Light for a temporary wreck mark

The light for a temporary wreck marking buoy is an alternating blue and yellow
light.

It is blue for one second, off for half a second, yellow for one second, off for half a
second, repeat……

If there are more than one of these buoys deployed on a wreck site the lights will
be coordinated.

Special Marks
Buoys Navigational Buoys – What The Signs Mean Special Marks

Special Marks are yellow buoys with a yellow cross on top. The yellow cross is an ‘X’
shape instead of a plus sign.
 Special marks can mean anything not covered by the rest of the buoys. Their
meaning can be looked up in almanacs, pilot books and in some cases on charts.

Examples of what they can mean are:

1. swimming areas, no boats allowed

2. no anchoring
3. yacht racing marks
4. historical wrecks
5. military ranges

Light for a special mark

The light for a special mark can be any rhythm other than that reserved for a white
light. For example, an East Cardinal buoy flashes three white lights. Therefore, a
yellow special mark will never flash three white lights.