2. A Review of the IALA-B Aid to Navigation System Presented by the members of: The USCG Auxiliary First Northern, Aid to Navigation Team

3. AV Training Objectives 1. Review the definitions for the various (P)ATONs. 2. Understand why ATONs are established. 3. Understand the specific purpose of the various ATONs. 4. Become familiar with the flash characteristics used on ATONs.

4. ATON System Definitions IALA - International Association of Lighthouse Authorities. Divides world into 2 regions: Region “A”: Most of the World Region “ B ”: North & South America, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. We use the IALA-B SYSTEM.

5. System Modes Region “A” Green Even Triangles Red Odd Squares Region “B” has: Red – Even - Triangles and nuns. Green - Odd - Squares and cans.

6. System Names U.S. Marking System Intracoastal Waterway System Western River System

7. U. S. Marking System Is a Lateral System that... Employs a simple arrangement of : colors, shapes, numbers, and light colors and characteristics... to show which side an aid should be passed when proceeding in the Conventional Direction of Buoyage. 3-R’s Red Right Returning from the sea

8. Conventional Direction of Buoyage Purpose: To identify how aids should be passed in areas other than channels. Regions: Atlantic Coast : Southerly Gulf Coast: North and Westerly Pacific Coast: Northerly Great Lakes: North and Westerly Lake Michigan: Southerly

9. Conventional Direction of Buoyage ICW

10. Definition of an Aid to Navigation Any device, external to a vessel, intended to assist a navigator to determine their position and safe course, or to warn them of any obstructions and other dangers to navigation. 2 7 6

11. Definition of a Buoy Any unmanned, floating aid to navigation that is moored to the seabed. May be lighted or unlighted. The seabed is owned by the COE and is licensed to the Coast Guard.

12. Nun Buoy 6 Keep this aid to your right when returning from seaward.

13. Lighted Red Buoy

14. Can Buoy 7

15. Green Can Buoy

16. Lighted Green Buoy

17. Definition of a Beacon Any fixed aid to navigation located on a shore or marine site. Lighted beacons are called Lights. Unlighted beacons are called Daybeacons Daybeacons or Daymarks. 2

18. Definition of a Daymark The daytime identifier of an aid to navigation presenting one of several colors, shapes, and numerals or letters. May be square, triangle, rectangle, diamond or octagon in shape.

19. Red Daymark 2

20. Red Daymark on Dolphin (Lighted) – Small Light

21. Green Daymark 3

22. Starboard Lateral Marks Color: Red Shape: Triangular or Conical. Character: Even Numbers Light: Red SMALL LIGHT Nun Daymark Buoy with Light structure

23. Port Lateral Marks Color: Green Shape: Squares and Cans Character: Odd Numbers Light: Green

24. 12 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 2 3 Any questions on the IALA-B lateral system? OK... Let’s add in a few more buoys

25. Preferred Channel Marks Purpose: Marks junctions / bifurcation's Description: Color: Red & Green horizontally banded (top color band is preferred channel) Shape: Same as preferred channel (uppermost band is preferred channel) Character: Lettered not numbered. Light: Same as uppermost band. Characteristic: Gp Fl (2+1) 6s A

26. In the Main Channel – pass on your Port side. In the Secondary Channel, pass to your Starboard side. When returning from the sea.

27. 12 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 2 3 How do you know which is the main channel? You always have to reference your nautical chart!

28. Purpose: Indicates navigable water all around the mark Description: Color: Red and White vertically striped Shape: Sphere or Buoy with Topmark Character: Letters (White) (ex. “NC” North Channel) Light Color: White Characteristic: Mo(A) Safe Water Mark NC

29. Safe Water Marks MR Spherical Lighted and or sound

30. Lighted Safe Water Buoy SOLAR PANELS WHITE LIGHT

31. Isolated Danger Mark Purpose: Marks isolated dangers or obstructions that can be passed on all sides Description: Color: Black and Red horizontally banded Shape: Buoy with Top marks Character: Letters (White) Light: White Characteristic : Gp Fl (2) 5s

32. Special Purpose Aids Purpose: Not intended to assist safe navigation but to indicate special areas marked on charts (anchorage, traffic separation, data gathering) Description: Color: Yellow Shape: Various Character: Black letters Light: Yellow Characteristic: Fixed, Flashing (except Mo A, 2+1, Qk)

33. Special Marks

34. Regulatory and Information Marks Diamond - means danger and words may appear explaining the danger. Danger Buoy Circle - means restricted operations. Speed Buoys (5 MPH) or No Wake Buoys Diamond with a Cross - tells you that vessels are not allowed in the area. Exclusion Buoys Square - contains directions to the boater. Bridge Regulatory Signs

35. Information and Regulatory Marks DANGER Exclusion Area Restricted Operations DANGER If lighted White only OOPs! Is there something missing? 5 MPH

36. Regulatory and Information Marks Purpose: Alert the mariner to such things as submerged pipes, no wake zones, etc. Description: Color: White; orange band or border Shape: Square or Diamond Character: Letters (black, usually words) Light: White Characteristic: Anything not otherwise reserved NO WAKE ROCK

37. Restricted Operations - Minimum Wake

38. Restricted Operations - Manatee Zone Do you see any other potential discrepancies?

39. Danger

40. Restricted Operations - No Wake CHECK IT OUT!

41. Restricted Operations Area

42. Restricted Operations - No Wake Be careful near this aid. Watch out for shoaling.

43. Exclusion Area - No Anchoring

44. Definition of a Range A pair of beacons arranged so that when they are aligned they indicate the center of the navigable channel.

45. Range Marks Purpose: When aligned, they indicate the center line of a channel. Description: Color: They will have colored panels equal in size vertically striped. Shape: Rectangle - tall side up. Light - Green, Red, White and Yellow. Front range light is lower of the two. Rear range light is higher and further from the mariner. KGW = King Green with White Stripe.

46. Range Marks Second (forward) Range Mark First (Rear)Range Mark

47. WRECK MARKS Purpose: To alert the mariner to wrecks. Description: Color: Appropriate to side of channel. Shape: Appropriate to side of channel. Character: White Letters “ WR ”, numbered in sequence with channel (WR2). Light: Same as buoy color. Characteristic: Quick Flashing (unless aid is a preferred channel aid ) 2

48. LOCATION MARK Some marks have no lateral significance. They are designed to indicate a position to help you know where you are.

49. N A DANGER 21 2 3 3 6 5 7 8 10 9 2 1

50. Lights

51. Light Structures Major Lighthouses Are named. e.g. Boston Light. Symbol is large exclamation point. Fixed position. Minor Lights Not named. Same symbol. Fixed position. Any Daymark fixed with a light.

52. Light Patterns Fixed (F) – unblinking light Flashing (Fl) – light duration shorter than darkness. Frequency not greater than 30 per minute. Quick Flashing (Q) – light duration shorter than darkness. Frequency is at least 60 per minute. Very Quick Flashing (VQ) – light duration shorter than darkness. Frequency is at least 100 per minute. Interrupted Quick Flashing (IQ) – like quick flashing but having a brief, extended darkness period. Isophase (Iso) – Light has equal duration between light and darkness. Period consists of both light and dark interval. Also called Equal Interval (E Int).

53. Light Patterns Group Flashing (Gp Fl (x+x)) – Combination of two patterns in one period, i.e. 2 flashes followed by three flashes. Occulting (Occ) – Opposite of flashing – light is on more than it is off. Alternating (AL) – Alternating light changes color. Special purpose light for situations requiring significant caution. Example shows AL.WG…alternating white and green light. Morse (Mo) – Morse code light signal. Example is Morse “U” which is two short flashes followed by one prolonged flash then a period of darkness. Shown as (Mo(U)) on charts. Long Flashing (LFL) – One long flash in a period with lighted period of at least 2 seconds.

54. 53

55. Chart No. 1 Purpose is to help you identify ATONS Standard conventions on all charts Listed in chart No. 1 Magenta is used on lighted aids because it is visible under red lights (for night vision)

56. Chart Symbols CAN - Green Diamond with small watch circle NUN – Red diamond with small watch circle. Watch circle overprinted with magenta when lighted. Italics used for buoys and other floating aids.

57. Symbols - Daymarks and Minor Lights Minor Light - Magenta exclamation mark (teardrop) with black dot Roman type letters used for fixed marks Green Daymark Green square. Red Daymark Red triangle 1 2

58. 57 87 88 89 90 91 A 21 2 3 3 6 5 7 8 10 9 2 1 92 N DANGER

59. Intracoastal Waterway Begins in New Jersey. Goes south to the Florida Keys. Then north along the west coast of Florida. Then west along the Gulf of Mexico to Brownsville, Texas.

60. Intracoastal Waterway Marks Yellow Yellow retro-reflective triangles, squares and bands. Red Red day marks, buoys and minor lights usually have yellow yellow retro-reflective triangles. Yellow retro-reflective squares usually go on green green lateral marks. Yellow Yellow retro-reflective bands bands are on non- lateral ATONS.

61. Intracoastal Waterway

62. Red Daymark /Minor Light with ICW Mark ICW Triangle

63. Green Daymark/ Minor Light with ICW Mark ICW Square

64. Dual Purpose Marks Mark U.S. ATON and the ICW. Sometimes yellow yellow triangle on square daymark and yellow square on triangle daymark. To follow the ICW, use yellow yellow marks. When following original waterway, follow the red (red or green green) lateral marks.

65. Intracoastal Waterway Marks Dual Purpose Marks

66. ATON - Reference Materials Local Notice to Mariners - LNM Local Notice to Mariners Online Chart No. 1: Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations, and Terms Light List – ME to New Jersey Coast Pilot – ME to Cape Cod

67. Electronic Aids To Navigation Loran-C Good when corrected. GPS GPS - Global Positioning Systems Differential GPS – used by Coast Guard. WAAS - Wide Area Augmentation Systems Preferred Positioning System. Electronic Nautical Charts. Integrated to GPS, RADAR, and Depth Sounder.

68. REVIEW

69. 87 88 89 90 91 A 21 2 3 3 6 5 7 8 10 9 2 1 92 N DANGER

70. Any more questions about Aids to Navigation? Thank You

71. A good reason to take it slow and watch where you’re going!