NP735

IALAMARITIME
BUOYAGE
SYSTEM
CombinedCardinaland LateralSystem
(Redto port in RegionA and red to starboardin Region B)

SEVENTH EDITION2012

IMPORTANT - SEERELATEDADMIRALWPUBLICATIONS
Notices to Mariners (Annual,Permanent,Preliminaryand Temporary);NP501 1 (Symbolsand
The Mariner'sHandbook(especially
abbreviations); Chapters1 and2on the use,accuracyandlimitations
of charts); SailingDirections (Pilots);List of Lights and Fog Signals; List of RadioSignals;
TideTables(ortheirdigitalequivalents).
KEEPCHARTSAND PUBLICATIONS UPTO DATEANDUSETHELARGESTSCALECHARTAPPROPRIATE

PUBLISHEDUNDER THE DIRECTIONOF REAR ADMIRAL IAN MONCRIEFFCBE BA,

CHIEF EXECUTIVEOF THE UNITED KINGDOM HYDROGRAPHICOFFICE

@ Crown Copyright 2012

 CONTENTS

CHAPTER1
- Introductionand description
Introduction(1.1)...... ............3
DescriptionoTthe system(1.4) .. . .. . .. . .. .-. . 5
N e wD a n g e(r1s. 1 1
. .). . . . . . . . . . . . .8

CHAPTER2
L t e rm
a la r k s . . . .............. 9

CHAPTER3
C a r d i nm
aal rks ........... 14

, CHAPTER4
f s o l a t edda n g em
r a r k s. . . .. -..... -.. '17

CHAPTER5
S a f ew a t em
r a r k s. . . . . .......... 19

CHAPTER6
S p e c i aml a r k s ...... 21

CHAPTER7
guoy. .. .
E m e r g e n cWyr e c kM a r k i nB ...... 23

CHAPTER8
Charting... . . . . . . . . . . - .2 5
 CHAPTER1

INTRODUCTION
AND DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

General information was made by the Technical Committee of the

1.1 InternationalAssociationof LighthouseAuthorities(now
The severest test of a buoyage system occurs InternationalAssociationof Marine Aids to Navigation
when the mariner is confrontedunexpectedlyby night and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)). IALA is a
or in low visibility by lights marking an uncharted n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a lb o d y w h i c h b r i n g s t o g e t h e r
danger,such as a recentwreck; immediatelyhe must representativesfrom the aids to navigationservices in
instinctively,positively and correctly decide what he order to exchange informationand recommend
must do. improvementsto navigationalaids based on the latest
fn the Dover Strait in 1971, MV Brandenburgstruck technology.
the wreckage of MV Texaco Caribbean and sank, o IALA decided that agreementcould not be achieved
though the wreckagewas appropriatelymarked.A few immediately,but concludedthat the use of only two
weeks later the wreckage, despite being marked by a alternative systems was practicable by dividing the
wreck-markingvessel and many buoys, was struck by world into two Regions. lt proposed a system allowing
MV N,k/, which also sank. A total of 51 lives was lost. the use of both Cardinaland Lateral systems in each
It was this disaster which gave rise to the Region,but whereasin RegionA the colourred of the
developmentand implementationof the IALA Maritime Lateral system is used to mark the port side of
Buoyage System. channelsand the colour green the starboardside, in
The wreck of MV Tricolor in the Dover Strait in Region B the colours are reversed.
2002 highlightedonce again the need to mark new The boundaries of the two Buoyage Regions are
dangers quickly and resulted in the introduction, shown in Diagram1.2.
initially on a trial basis, of the Emergency Wreck
Marking Buoy. For full details, see T.i.
lmplementation
Development 1.3
1.2 In 1980, at a conference convened w it h t he
The beginningsof a uniform system of buoyage a s s i s t a n c e o f t h e l n t e r - G o v e r n m e n t a lM a r i t i m e
emerged in 1889, when certain countries agreed to Consultative Organisation (IMCO) (now the
mark the port side of channels with black can buoys InternationalMaritime Organisation (lMO)) and the
and the starboard side with red conical buoys. InternationalHydrographic Organisation (lHO), the
Unfortunatelywhen lightsfor buoys were introduced, l i ghthouse authori ti esfrom 50 countri es and t he
some European countries placed red lights on the representatives of nine international organisations
black port hand buoys to cohform with the red lights concernedwith aids to navigation,agreed to adopt the
marking the port side of harbour entrances, whilst rules of the new combined system, and reached
throughout North America red lights were placed on decisions on the buoyage Regions.
the red starboard hand buoys. The IALA System has now been implemented
Thereafter various conferences sought a single throughoutmuch of the world. ln some parts,however,
buoyagesystem,but withoutsuccess,until 1g36 when conversion to the new system is still incomplete.
a system was drawn up under The League of Nations In certain areas, such as North America and the
at Geneva. lt established a Cardinal system, and a inland waterwaysof Western Europe,the IALA system
Lateralsystem with the principlethat red buoys should is used with modificationswhich are described in
be used to port and black buoys to starboard. But Admiralty Sailing Directions.
several countries were not signatories to this However, although most major alterationsof
Conventionand continued to develop their original, buoyage to the IALA System have now been
and opposite systems. completed, there are still some places where the
After World War ll (1939-45) buoyage systems buoyage does not conformto that System. Some ports
were re-established in NW Europe based on the will convert their buoyage piecemealand only when
system devised by the 1936 Geneva Convention,but other buoyage changes make it convenient; others
wide .differences in interpretation of that system have yet to announce plans to conform to the IALA
resulted in nine different systems coming into use in System.
those waters. Progress towards completionof the change to the
In 1973, observingthe need for urgency,a further IALA System is, therefore, likely to be gradual, and
attemptto find a single world-widesystem of buoyage notice of change, if given, is likely to be short.
 DESCRIPTIONOF THE SYSTEM
Scope Can, conical and sphericalbuoys indicateby their
1.4 shape the correct side to oass.
The System applies to all fixed and floating marks, Marks which do not rely on their shape for
other than lighthouses,sector lights,leadinglightsand identificationcarry the appropriate topmark whenever
marks, lanbys, certain large light floats, and light practicable.However, in some parts of the world,
vessels. lt serves to indicate: includingUS waters,light-buoyshave identicalshapes
Sides and centrelinesof navigablechannels. on both pod and starboard sides of Laterally-marked
Navigable channels under fixed bridges (see channels, and are not fitted with topmarks.
2.10). In US waters, a buoy with a conical or truncated
Natural dangers and other obstructionssucn as conicaltop, known as a nun buoy, is used to mark the
wrecks (which are described as ,,New starboardside of the channel.
Dangers" when newly discovered and Additionally,it will often be found in Baltic waters
uncharted). that topmarks are not used on buoyage as a
Areas in which navigation may be subject to consequenceof their fragility in inclementweather.
regulation.
Other features of importance to the marrner. Topmarks
1.8
Marks
1.5 Can, conical, spherical,X-shaped and *-shaped
Six types of mark are provided by the System: topmarks are the only ones used.
Lateral,Cardinal,lsolated Danger, Safe Water, Special On pillar and spar buoys the use of topmarks is
marks and EmergencyWreck Marking Buoys. They particularlyimpodantas the shape of the buoy has no
may be used in any combination. The way in which atl meaning, although ice or severe weather may
these types of marks can be combinedis illustratedin sometimespreventtheir use or damage them beyond
the GeneralScheme of Buoyagediagramsat j.5.1-4. recognition.
Each type of mark is described in greater detail in
Chapters 2 - 7. Lights
Most lighted and unlighted beacons, other than 1.9
leadingmarks,are includedin the System.In general, Where marks are lighted,red and green lights of
beacon topmarkshave the same shapes and colours the IALA System are reserved for Lateral marks and
as those used on buoys. Because of the variety of yellow lights for Special marks. Alternatingblue and
beacon structures,the diagrams in these chapters yellow flashing lights are used for EmergencyWreck
show mainly buoy shapes. Marking Buoys.
Until 2006, permanentand semi-permanent wrecks White lights,distinguishedone from anotherby their
were marked in the same way as other dangers;no rhythm, are used for other types of mark.
unique pe of mark was reserved for them in the It is possible that some shore lights, specifically
IALA System. However the EmergencyWreck Marking excludedfrom the IALA System, may by coincidence
Buoy was introducedon a trial basis in 2006, an have similar characteristicsto those of the buoyage
formallyadopted in 2010. For further details see 7.1. system. Care is needed on sightingsuch lights that
they are not misinterpreted.
Colours
1.6 Retroreflectors
Red and green are reserved for Lateral marks, and 1.10
yellow for Special marks. Black and yellow or black Two codes, the Standard Code and the
and red bands, or red and white or blue and yellow ComprehensiveCode, are used for distinguishing
stripes are used for other types of marks as described unlighted marks at night by securing to them, i
later. particular patterns, retroreflectivematerial to reflect
back light.In any specifiedarea only one of the codes
Shapes is used. The code in use will, if known, be mentioned
1.7 in Admiralty Sailing Directions.
Five basic shapes were defined when the System Standard Code uses the following markings:
was devised:Can, Conical,Pillar,Sphericaland Spar.
Light floats and buoyant beacons are also used. Red Lateralmarks: One red band or red shapeie
a squarein BuoyageRegion
A or a trianglein Buoyage
l\ T ReoionB.
l\
il Green Lateralmarks: One greenbandor green
shapeie a trianglein

I
/ \
/
a )
\ m il
))(( tl Preferredchannel
BuoyageRegionA or a
squarein BuoyageRegionB.
As for red or green Lateral
Conical marks: marks,dependingon the
vdtl Pillar Spherical Spar
dominantcolourof the mark.
-
Buoyage Shapes (1.7) Specialmarks: One yellowband,yellowX or
yellowsymbol.
Variationsin the basic shapes may be common for
a number of years after the introductionof the IALA Cardinal, One or morewhitebands,
System to a particularlocality since much existing lsolatedDangerand letters,numeralsor symbols.
equipmentwill continue in use. Safe Water marks:
 Visual marks. The extent of the navigable channel channel, although in some cases the daymarks
is marked as follows (See diagram 2.10): described above may be floodlit. lf the navigable
In Buoyage Region A: to port, a panel showing a channel occupies the full width of a span, some
solid red square; to starboard, a panel authorities may floodlight the bridge piers alone.
showing a solid green equilateraltriangle,point The best point of passage is indicated by a white
upwards light or lights located under the span and exhibitinga
In Buoyage Region B: to port, a panel showing a safe water mark character (5.1).
solid green square; to starboard, a panel Sound signals. One or more sound signals of any
showing a solid red equilateral triangle, point type may be used to warn the mariner of the presence
upwards. of a bridge. lf a number of such signals are placed at
In both Regions, the best point of passage is differentpoints on the bridge, their charactershould be
marked by a circular panel with red and white different from one another.
vertical stripes. Racons. A short range racon may be used to mark
Note. Bridge spans other than those marked by the the best point of passage under a bridge. Where two
red and green lateral marks prescribed above (eg racons are used to mark either side of a bridge span
spans to be used by very small craft) may be they are coded:
indicated by Special marks (6.1). Port Morse Code B (-...)
By night, red or green rhythmic navigation lights Starboard: Morse Code T (-)
may be used to mark the extent of the navigable

11
 CHAPTER3

CARDINALMARKS

System description Shape

3. 1 3.5
Cardinal marks are used to indicate where the t Cardinalmarks do not have a distinctiveshape, but
mariner may find the best navigablewater, relativeto if they are buoys,will normallybe either pillaror spar.
a point of interest.They are placed in one of the four
quadrants (N, E, S, W) defined as:
N BetweenNW and NE. Lights
E BetweenNE and SE. 3.6
lf Cardinal marks are lit, they will exhibit white
S BetweenSE and SW. lights, They are characterisedby a group of quick or
W BetweenSW and NW. very quick flashes,which distinguishthem as Cardinal
Cardinal marks take their name from the quadrant marks, and indicate their quadrant as follows:
in which they are placed. See Diagram 3.1. N Uninterrupted
The marineris safe if he passes N of a North mark, E 3 flashesin a group
E of an East mark, S of a South mark and W of a
West mark. S 6 flashesin a groupfollowedby a longflash.
The long flash (of not lessthan 2 seconds
duration)isto ensurethatS flashescannotbe
Uses mistakenfor 3 or 9.
3.2
Cardinal marks may be used to: W 9 flashesin a group
Indicatethat the deepest water in an area is on
the named side of the mark. To aid the memory,the number of flashes in each
lndicate the safe side on which to pass a group can be associated with the clock face, thus:
danger. 3 o'clock East
Draw attentionto a feature in a channel such as
a bend, junction,bifurcation,or end of a shoal. 6 o'clock South
9 o'clock West
Topmarks
3.3 Period. The periods of the East, South and West
Black double-cone topmarks are a very important lights are, respectively,10, 15, and l5seconds if a
feature of Cardinal marks; they are carried whenever quick light,and 5, 10, and 10 seconds if a very quick
practicable,with the cones as large as possible and light.
clearly separated. Rate. Quick lightsflash at a rate of between50 and
The arrangementof thg cones must be memorised. 79 flashes per minute, usually either 50 or 60. Very
More difficultto rememberthan North () and South quick lights flash at a rate of between 80 and
(V) ate East (+) and West (X) topmarks; "W for l 5gfl ashes per mi nute, usual l y ei ther 100 or 120.
Wineglass"may help.

Colours Retroreflectors
3.4 3.7
Black and yellow bands are the colours used for One or more white bands, letters, numerals or
Cardinal marks. symbols of retroreflectivematerial are used in the
The positionof the black band, or bands, is related StandardCode to distinguishunlightedCardinalmarks.
to the. points of the black topmark, thus; Blue and yellow bands on the black and yellow
N Pointsup Blackband aboveyellowband. parts of the mark are used in the Comprehensive
Code. thus:
E Pointsoutward Blackbands above and below
yellowband. N Blue on the black part and yellowon the yellowpart
E Two blueon the upperblackPart
S Pointsdown Blackband belowyellowband.
Blackband with yellowbands S Yellowon the yellowpart and blue on the black part
W Pointsinward
above and below. W Two yellowon the upperyellowpart

14
Lighis ComPositegrouPflashing.
6.5 Morsecode-letters,otherthan MorseCode (A)'
When lit, a yellow light is exhibited from a Special (D) or (U).
mark. The rhythm may be any, other than those used 2 ln the case of ODAS buoys, the rhythm is group
for the wnite tignt of CarOin, lsolaied Dangr and fiashirg with a group of 5 flashes every 20 seconds'
Safe Water mrks. The following are permitted
exarnples: Retroreflectors
Group occltlng. 6.6
Flashing. r Under the StandardCode, ore ye$wband, an X,
Group flashing with a group of 4' 5 or or a'symbol are used for rtrorfletorsto distinguish
(exceptionat{Y)6 flashes. unlit Special marks.

22
 CHAPTER8

CHARTING

CHART SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

lntroduction some years to complete. The older scheme using
8.1 magenta flares and symbols are shown in diagram
Chart symbols and abbreviationsfor IALA marks 8.1.
are given in NP501 1 - Symbols and Abbreviations
used on Admiralty Paper Charts and are illustrated in Colours
Diagram 8.1, but see paragraph 8.3 regarding 8.4
multicolouredcharts. The shading of buoy symbols to indicate the
colours of buoys is no longer used. A black (ie
Conventionaldirection of buoyage filled-in)symbol is used for predominantly green marks
8.2 and for all spar buoys and beacons;an open symbol
On Admiraltychafts, the ConventionalDirectionof is used for all buoys and beacon lowers of other
Buoyage may be indicatedby magenta arrow symbols, colours,but with a verticalline to indicatestripedSafe
with appropriatelycoloured dots on multicoloured Water buoys.
charts (see 8.3 below). T h e a b b r e v i a t e dd e s c r i p t i o no f t h e c o l o u r , o r
In some straits (eg. Menai Strait and The Solent) colours,of a buoy is usuallygiven under the symbol.
and in the open sea (eg. off the lrish coast at Malin Where a buoy is coloured in bands, the colours are
Head),where the directionchanges,attentionis drawn indicated in sequence from the top, eg E Cardinal
to its reversal by arrow symbols confronting each buoy - Black with a yellow band - BYB. lf the
other. sequenceof the bands is not known, or if the buoy is
On many coasts and in some straits world-wide, striped, the colours are indicated with the darker
b u o y a g e a u t h o r i t i e sh a v e n o t y e t e s t a b l i s h e d o r colour first eg Safe Water buoy - Red and white
promulgateda General Directionof Buoyage,so it is stripes - RW.
not possibleto chart the arrow symbol.This could be
hazardous if a New Danoer were to be marked bv Shapes
Lateral buoys. 8.5
The symbolfor a spar buoy is also used to indicate
Multicolouredcharts a spindle buoy. The symbol will be sloped to
8.3 distinguishit from a beacon symbol which is upright.
The UKHO began a programmeof convefiing its Buoyant beacons are charted as light beacons.
metricchartsfrom the traditional4-colourscheme to a lf the shape of a buoy in the IALA System is not
multicolouredformat for all New Charts and New known, the symbol for a pillar buoy is used. See
E d i t i o n s f r o m 2 0 1 0 . R e o r e s e n t a t i o n so f h o w NP5011.
multicolouredcharts will look are at diagrams 1.5.1.1
a n d 1 . 5 . 2 . 1o n p a g e s 1 4 . a n d 1 5 , Topmarks
This conversionaffects the way buoyage is charted 8.6
as follows: Topmarks are shown boldly, in solid black except
Flares. The magentaflare is replacedby a flare when the topmark is red, when it is in outline only.
representative of the colour of the light. In the See NP5077.
case of white, yellow, amber and orange
lights,the charted flare is yellow. The magenta Radar reflectors
flare will continue to be used for the rare 8.7
occasions where the mark exhibits a violet On the introductionof the System, ii was decided
light, or if more than one colour of light is not to chad radar reflectors.lt can be assumed that
exhibitedfrom the same mark. mosl major buoys are fitted with radar reflectors.
Conventional direction of buoyage arrows.
The magenta arrow symbol remains lsolated danger marks
unchanged,but the spots now show red to 8.8
pod and green to starboard (Region A) and The positionof a danger is the centreof the symbol
green to port, red to starboard (Region B). o r s o u n d i n g i n d i c a t i n gt h a t d a n g e r . T h e s y m b o l
See diagram8.3 for fufiher details.Marinersshould indicatingthe lsolated Danger buoy will inevitablybe
note that the chart conversionprogrammewill take s l i g h t l yd i s p l a c e d .

ALTERATIONSTO CHARTS
General information Notices to Mariners or by issuing New Editions of
8.9 affectedcharts. Exceptionally,
where the changes are
When a system of buoyageis changed,corrections complex, two editions of the chart may be made
enabling charts to be kept up-to-datewill be availableshowingthe old and new systems,until the
promulgatedby the most appropriatemeans,either by change has been implemented.

25