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 Numbers increase from seaward. “Even Red Nuns have Odd Green Cans”

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, caused by buoy movement. Horn – electronic tone. In calm seas, might not hear bell, gong or whistle buoys.

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

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

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

Other Buoy Systems Mooring Buoys Information and Regulatory Marks

Other Buoy Systems Uniform State Waterway Marking System (USWMS) For lakes and inland waterways.

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

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

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

Day Beacons Safewater Special Isolated Danger Red & Black Diamond

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

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

Intracoastal Waterway

Ranges Two objects, when in line, indicate a specific line of position. E.g. Mark when in center of a channel Can be lighted or day beacons.

Ranges

If range is ahead, left of track If range is astern, right of track

Lights Major Lights Primary Seacoast – major lights that give early indication of landfall High intensity lights on a fixed structure. Secondary Lights – mark harbor entrances

Lights Primary Seacoast Light

Lights Minor Lights Smaller, low-intensity lights within a harbor, marking a channel, etc. Includes lighted buoys, range lights, etc.

Range Lights

Lights Red = move to stbd. Directional lights – use colored lenses to show narrow beams of colored lights. Green = move to port

Lights Usually mark hazards. Sector lights – use colored lenses to show different color at various bearings. Stay out of the red sector! Bearings stated in Light List as seen from vessel.

Sector Lights

Lights Bridge Lights Red lights – piers and closed drawbridge. Green lights – deep channels and open drawbridges.

Light Characteristics Lights have color and phase characteristics that aid identification. See Bowditch Ch. 5

Introduction to Navigation Questions?