Navigation NAU 102 Lesson 10

Buoy Labels Buoys may be numbered or lettered for ease of identification. Port hand buoys = odd numbers Starboard buoys = even numbers “Even Red Nuns have Odd Green Cans” Numbers increase from seaward.

All solid colored buoys are numbered in both IALA – A and B systems Buoy Labels All solid colored buoys are numbered in both IALA – A and B systems No other colored buoys are numbered but may have a letter for identification

Buoy Labels

All other buoys may be lettered. E.g. “CBJ” = Chesapeake Bay Junction 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 (compressed air), caused by buoy movement. Horn – disc diaphragm operated pneumatically or electrically. In calm seas, might not hear bell, gong or whistle buoys.

Buoy Lights Optional equipment for buoys. Color and Phase Characteristics are important. Color: Lateral Marks - Red or Green 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.

LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS FIXED: Shows continuously, steady OCCULTING: Longer duration of light than darkness ISOPHASE: Duration of light and darkness are equal FLASHING: Duration of light is shorter than duration of darkness

LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS Group Flashing: Specific number of group flashes regularly repeated Composite Group Flashing: Successive groups in the period have a different number of flashes Quick Flashing: 60 flashes per minute Interrupted Quick Flashing: Quick light interrupted by regularly repeated eclipses

LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS Morse Code: two clearly different durations (dots and dashes) grouped to represent a Morse Code character or characters Examples: The San Francisco Approach Lighted Whistle Buoy SF (Sea Buoy) & the San Pablo Bay Channel Lighted Buoy E both flash Morse “A” (dot dash) Alternating: Alternates different colors

Buoy Lights Port & Starboard Lateral Marks Any phase characteristic other than Comp. GpFl (2+1)

Junction & Bifurcation Marks Buoy Lights Junction & Bifurcation Marks Comp. GpFl (2+1)

Buoy Lights Safe Water Marks

Buoy Lights Isolated Danger Marks

Buoy Lights Special Marks

Buoy Lights Cardinal Marks

Beacons Fixed Marks Mounted ashore or in shallow water Lighted Beacon = “Light” No light = “Daybeacon” “Daymark” – the sign or structure enabling identification by day

Beacons Daymark

Shape & Color have meaning Triangles to starboard. Day Beacons Shape & Color have meaning (IALA – B) Green to port. Red to starboard. Squares to port. Triangles to starboard.

Day Beacons Safewater Special Isolated Danger Red & Black Diamond

Intracoastal Waterway Buoys & Daymarks with yellow stripes. 1 Used only on ICW

1 Intracoastal Waterway Buoys & Daymarks with yellow shapes. Indicate dual use Yellow rectangle or square = port side of ICW Yellow triangle = starboard side of ICW

Intracoastal Waterway

LIGHT SECTORS Light lenses have different colors to produce a system of light sectors of different colors Red sectors typically mark shoals or worn of obstructions, nearby land – boundaries are marked by dotted lines on a chart Light List bearings for these sectors are in TRUE degrees as observed FROM a vessel toward the light

Introduction to Navigation Questions?