Lights and buoys 

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Aids to navigation
Aids to navigation are special structures like lighthouses, lightships,
beacons, buoys, etc that are used to enhance safety by providing more
opportunities to obtain LOPs.

These lights and marks are prescribed across the world by the International
Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). In 1977 this IALA endorsed two
maritime buoyage systems putting an end to the 30 odd systems existing at
that time. Region A - IALA A covers all of Europe and most of the rest of the
world, whereas region B - IALA B covers only the Americas, Japan, the
Philippines and Korea. Fortunately, the differences between these two
systems are few. The most striking difference is thedirection of buoyage. 
All marks within the IALA system are distinguished by:

 Shape
 Colour
 Topmark
 Light

Light identification
During daytime, the identification of aids to navigation is accomplished by
observing: location, shape, colour scheme,auxiliary features (sound
signals, RACON , RC , etc) or markings (name, number, etc).

During the night, we use the features of the aid to navigation's light to both
identify it and ascertain its purpose. There are three features to describe the
light:

 Colour: Either white, red, green or yellow. If no colour is stated in the

chart, default is white.
 Period: The time in seconds needed for one complete cycle of
changes.     The arrow indicates the 10 second period of
this flashing light “Fl(3) 10s”.
 Phase characteristic: The particular pattern of changes within one
complete cycle (hence, within one period). Below are the most common
types:
  Fixed   F
   This light shines with an unblinking and steady
intensity and is always on. In this example a yellow fixed light is
shown.
 Flashing   Fl:
   The duration of the light is always less than the
duration of the darkness. The frequency does not exceed 30 times per
minute.
 Quick Flashing   Q:
   Again, the duration of quick flash is less than the
darkness. The frequency is at least 60 times per minute.
 Very Quick Flashing   VQ:
   Also here, the duration of very quick flash is less
than the darkness. The frequency is at least 100 times per minute.
 Interrupted Quick Flashing   IQ:
   Like Quick Flashing with one moment of
darkness in one period.
 Isophase   Iso:
   This Light has equal duration between light and
darkness. A period consists of both a light and a dark interval. Also
called Equal Interval (E Int).
 Group Flashing   Gp Fl(x+x):
   This is actually a combination of two patterns in
one period. In this example the first 2 flashes followed by the pattern
of 3 flashes result in: Gp Fl(2+3).
 Occulting   Occ:
   Occulting is the opposite of flashing, the light is
more on then off.
 Alternating   AL:
   An alternating light changes colour. This special
purpose light is typically used for special applications requiring the
exercise of great caution. In this example ALT.WG is shown, alternating
between green and white.
 Morse U   Mo (U):
   This light shows two flashes and a longflash,
which is equivalent to the letter “U” in Morse code.
 Long-Flashing   LFl:
   This light has one long flash in a period. A long
flash is at least 2 seconds long.

Let's look at some examples using colour, period and phase characteristics.
The arrows mark the periods:

   Fl (4) 8s
   Oc (2+3) 10s
   Iso G 4s
 All lighted aids to navigation are either major or minor lights, where major
lights are used for key navigational points along sea-coasts, channels and
harbour and river entrances. These lights are normally placed in lightships,
lighthouses and other permanently installed structures, providing both high
intensity and high reliability of the lights. Major lights are then subdivided
inprimary lights (very strong, long range lights used for the purpose of
making landfalls or coastal passages) and secondary lights (shorter range
lights found for example at harbour and river entrances). Important details of
(especially) primary lights can be found in a reference called the Light
List where information (about pedestals etc.) can be found which is not
included in the chart. 
Minor lights on the other hand are likely to be found within harbours, along
channels and rivers. These have a low to moderate intensity and sometimes
mark isolated dangers.

Six types of navigation buoys:

 Lateral
 Cardinal
 Isolated danger
 Safe water
 New wreck
 Special

Lateral buoys and marks

The location of lateral buoys defines the borders of channels and indicates the
direction. Under IALA A red buoys mark the port side of the channel when
returning from sea, whereas under IALA B green buoys mark the port side of
the channel when sailing towards land. Red buoys have even numbers and
red lights; green buoys have odd numbers and green lights. Lateral lights can
have any calm phase characteristic except FL (2+1).

Generally, when two channels meet, one will be designated the

preferred channel (i.e. most important channel). The buoy depicted on the
right indicates the preferred channel to starboard  under IALA A. The light
phase characteristic is R FL (2+1):   
 

The buoy depicted on the left indicates the preferred channel to

port  under IALA A. These buoys are marked with the names and numbers
of both channels. The light phase characteristic is G FL (2+1):
 
For an example of lateral buoys used to mark a (preferred) channel,
see direction of buoyage below.

Cardinal buoys
The four cardinal buoys indicate the safe side of a danger with an
approximate bearing. For example, the West cardinal buoy has safe water on
its West and the danger on its East side. Notice the “clockwise” resemblance
of the light phase characteristics. The top marks consist of two black triangles
placed in accordance with the black/yellow scheme of the buoy. When a new
obstacle (not yet shown on charts) needs to be marked, two cardinal buoys -
for instance a South buoy and an East buoy - will be used to indicate this
“uncharted” danger. The cardinal system is identical in both the IALA A and
IALA B buoyage systems. 
  

Marks indicating isolated dangers

This type of buoy indicates the position of an isolated

danger, contrary to cardinal buoys which indicate a direction away from the
danger. Body: black with red horizontal band(s); Topmark: 2 black spheres.
The light (when present) consists of a white flash: Fl(2). 
 
 Marks indicating safe water

Notice that whereas most horizontal

striping spells “danger”, this safe water buoy is vertically striped. These
marks are for example seaward of all other buoys (lateral and cardinal) and
can be used to make landfall. Body: red and white vertical stripes; Topmark
(if any): single red sphere. Lights are typically calm and white: Morse A, Iso,
Occ or LFl 10s. 

Marks for new wrecks

After the sinking of the “Tricolor” in the Pas de Calais (Dover Straits) in
2002, several other vessels hit the wreck despite standard radio warnings,
three guard ships and a lighted buoy. This incident spawned a new type of
buoy, the emergency wreck marking buoy, which is placed as close as
possible to a new dangerous wreck. 

The emergency wreck marking buoy will remain in position until: a) the wreck
is well known and has been promulgated in nautical publications; b) the
wreck has been fully surveyed and exact details such as position and least
depth above the wreck are known; and c) a permanent form of marking of
the wreck has been carried out. 

The buoy has the following characteristics:

 A pillar or spar buoy, with size dependant on location.

 Coloured in equal number and dimensions of blue and yellow vertical
stripes (minimum of 4 stripes and maximum of 8 stripes).
 Fitted with an alternating blue and yellow flashing light with a nominal
range of 4 nautical miles where the blue and yellow 1 second flashes are
alternated with an interval of 0.5 seconds. 
B1.0s + 0.5s + Y1.0s + 0.5s = 3.0s   
 If multiple buoys are deployed then the lights will be synchronized.
 A racon Morse Code “D” and/or AIS transponder can be used.
 The top mark, if fitted, is a standing/upright yellow cross .

It is important to realize - especially for the colour-blind - that this new buoy
breaches the useful and crucial convention: vertical stripes equal safety,
horizontal stripes equal danger.

Special buoys and marks

I have saved these buoys for last since they lack an actual navigational goal.
Most of the time these yellow buoys indicate pipelines or areas used for
special purposes. 
I have drawn the five official IALA shapes, from left to
right: conical, spar, cylindrical, pillar and spherical. 

Chart symbols
The seafaring nations of the world - members of the International
Hydrographic Organization - agreed in 1982 on an universal set of chart
symbols, abbreviations, colours, etc to be used in the nautical chart, in order
to obtain uniformity.

On regular charts a white, red, yellow or green lights will be indicated by  ,
and on GPS displays and modern multi-coloured charts in specific
colours:  , with the yellow coloured lobe indicating a white light. 
The precise position of a chart symbol is its center, or is indicated with a line
and circle  , the “position circle”.

Two distinct types of sea mark are drawn differently in the chart:

 beacons - fixed to the seabed; drawn upright;

 buoys - consisting of a floating object that is usually anchored to a
specific location on the sea floor; drawn at an oblique angle and with oblique
numbering, descriptions of colours and light characteristics.

Major floating light (light-vessel, major light-

float, LANBY)

Light-vessel
Major light; minor light

Green or black buoys (symbols filled

black): G = Green ; B = Black

Green or black beacon (symbol filled black).

Note the upright G, instead of an oblique G

Single coloured buoys other than green and

black: Y = Yellow ; R = Red

Coloured beacon other than green and black,

the symbol is again filled black so only the
shape of the topmark is of navigational
significance.

Multiple colours in horizontal bands, the

colour sequence is from top to bottom

Multiple colours in vertical or diagonal stripes,

the darker colour is given first. W = White

Spar buoy (here a safe water mark)

Lighted marks on multi-coloured charts, GPS

displays and chart plotters.

Lighted red beacon on standard charts.

Red beacon and green buoy with topmark,

colour, radar reflector and designation. Red
buoys and marks are given even numbers,
green buoys and marks are given odd
numbers.

Wave-actuated bell buoy to the left, and to

the right a Light buoy, with a horn giving a
single blast every 15 seconds, in conjunction
with a wave-actuated whistle. Other sounds
include “Gong”, “Siren”, “Diaphone” (Dia). 
The fog signal symbol   may be omitted
when a description of the signal is given.
 Leading beacons - Leading line (firm line is
the track to be followed)

Leading lights (≠ : any two objects in line

under each other). Bearing given in degrees
and minutes. The lights are synchronized. The
red light has a shorter nominal range (the
distance from which the light can be seen):
10 nautical miles.

All-round light with obscured sector

Sector light on multi-coloured charts. 

The elevation is 21 metres (height of the light
structure above chart datum). 
The nominal range of the white light is 18
nautical miles. The range of the green and
red light is 12 nautical miles.

Main light visible all-round with red subsidiary

light seen over danger. The fixed red light has
an elevation of 55 metres and a nominal
range of 12 nautical miles. The flashing light
is white, with three flashes in a period of 10
seconds. The elevation is higher than the red
light: 62 metres and the range of the white
light is 25 nautical miles.

Symbol showing direction of buoyage (where

not obvious)

Symbol showing direction of buoyage (where

not obvious), on multi-coloured charts (red
and green circles coloured as appropriate),
here IALA A

Full example of a light description in the chart: 

Fl(3)WRG.15s21m15-11M 
Class of light: group flashing repeating a group of three flashes; 
Colours: white, red, green, exhibiting the different colours in defined
sectors; 
Period: the time taken to exhibit one full sequence of 3 flashes and eclipses:
15 seconds; 
Elevation of light : 21 metres; 
Nominal range(s): white 15 M, green 11 M, red between 15 and 11 M,
where “M” stands for nautical miles.

Lateral Marks - direction of buoyage

Lateral marks are generally for well-defined channels and there are two
international Buoyage Regions - A and B - where these Lateral marks differ.
Where in force, the IALA System applies to all fixed and floating marks
except landfall lights, leading lights and marks, sectored lights and major
floating lights.

The standard buoy shapes are cylindrical (can)   , conical   , spherical   ,

pillar   and spar   , but variations may occur, for example: minor light-
floats  . In the illustrations below, only the standard buoy shapes are used. 
In the case of fixed beacons   - lit or unlit - only the shape of the topmark
is of navigational significance.

IALA
Region
A

Europe
Africa
New
Zealand
Australia
China
India
Russia
Indonesi
a
Turkey
Middle
East
Etc.
 IALA
Region
B

Americas
Philippine
s
Japan
Korea
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Visibility of lights
   © sailingissues.com   
It is important to know at what distance we may (begin to) see a certain
light, and when we can expect to lose sight of it, especially when making
landfall. Several practical ranges are used to the describe the visibility of
lights in navigation:

 The meteorological range is based on the current atmospheric

conditions. The table below shows that the atmosphere immensely influences
the visibility of light travelling through it.

Meteorological Optical Range Table

Code No. Weather Distance (m) Code No. Weather Distance (nm)

 0 Dense fog Less than 50  5 Haze 1.0 - 2.0

 1 Thick fog 50 - 200  6 Light haze 2.0 - 5.5

   
 2 Moderate 200 - 500  7 Clear 5.5 - 11.0

 3 Light fog 500 - 1000  8 Very clear 11.0 - 27.0

 4 Thin fog 1000 - 2000  9 Exceptionally clear Over 27.0

 The geographic range is based on the elevation of the light. A higher
light means that its horizon is farther away, seedistance of horizon. 
Moreover, if the observer's height of eye is higher than sea level the light can
been seen beyond its geographic range, thedipping range. However, on
sailing yachts this potential is limited.

 The nominal range of a light is based on its candlepower, and is

typically the range mentioned in the chart. The nominal range is the
maximum distance at which a light can be seen in weather conditions where
visibility is 10 nm.

So, a minor light - perched on a 70m high cliff - with a geographic range of
20 nm  will not be detectable by the human eye at a distance of 6 nm

1. if the nominal range is just 5 nm.

2. if the meteorological range is just 5 nm due to a light haze.

Because of the limiting factor of the geographic range, most major lights will
never be seen from a sailing yacht 20 nm away. Yet, it is sometimes possible
to take a bearing on the loom of the light: its reflection against the clouds.

Different coloured lights with equal candlepower have different ranges. White
light is the most visible followed by yellow, green and then red. Therefore, at
extreme ranges an “AL WG” can resemble a “Fl W”.

The range of a lit buoy is never indicated - with the exception of a LANBY -
but on a clear night the maximum range is 3 nm, yet often considerably less.
There are 2 visual clues to determine your distance from a buoy: at about 0.5
nm, the light will rise up from the horizon, and at about 200m, the light will
reflect in the surface.

Buoy
Buoy Buoy
at less
at less at less
than
than 3 than
0.5
nm 200m
nm
 Glossary
 Navigation aid: An onboard instrument, device, chart, method, etc.,
intended to assist in the navigation.
 Aid to navigation: A device or structure external to the ship, designed
to assist in determination of position, to define a safe course, or to warn of
dangers or obstructions.
 Mark, seamark, navigation mark: An artificial or natural object of
easily recognizable shape or colour, or both, situated in such a position that it
may be identified on a chart. A fixed artificial navigation mark is often called
a Beacon.
 Light characteristics: The sequence and length of light and dark
periods and the colour or colours by which a navigational light is identified.
 Topmark: One of more objects of characteristic shape placed on top of
a buoy or beacon to aid in its identification.
 Lateral Mark: An aid to navigation intended to mark the sides of a
channel or waterway.
 Cardinal Marks: An IALA aid to navigation intended to show the
location of a danger to navigation based on its position relative to the danger
using the “cardinal point”: north, east, south, west.
 Isolated danger Marks: An IALA aid to navigation marking a danger
with clear water all around it; it has a double ball topmark and is black with
at least one red band. If lighted its characteristic is Fl(2).
 Sector light: A light having sectors of different colours or the same
colour in specific sectors separated by dark sectors.
 Light sector: As defined by bearings from seaward, the sector in
which a navigational light is visible or in which it has a distinctive colour
difference from that of adjoining sectors, or in which it is obscured.
 Lighthouse: A distinctive structure exhibiting a major navigation light.
 Light List: A publication giving detailed information regarding lighted
navigational aids and fog signals.
 Landfall: The first sighting (even by radar) of land when approached
from seaward.
 Range: Two or more objects in line. Such objects are said to be in
range. An observer having them in range is said to be on the range. Two
beacons are frequently located for the specific purpose of forming a range to
indicate a safe route or the centerline of a channel.
 Leading line: On a nautical chart, a straight line, drawn through
leading marks. A ship moving along such line will clear certain dangers or
remain in the best channel.
 Range lights, leading lights: Two or more lights at different
elevations so situated to form a range (leading line) when brought into
transit. The one nearest to the observer is the from light and the one farthest
from the observer is the rear light. The front light is at a lower elevation than
the rear light.
 Lights in line: Two or more lights so situated that when observed in
transit they define a position: the limit of an area, an alignment used for
 anchoring, etc. Not to be confused with range lights, which mark a direction
to be followed.
 Light-float : A buoy having a boat-shaped body. Light-floats are
nearly always unmanned and are used instead of smaller lighted buoys in
waters where strong currents are experienced.
 Primary (sea-coast) light: A light established for purpose of making
landfall or coastwise past from headland to headland.
 Secondary light: A major light, other than a primary (sea-coast) light,
established at harbour entrances and other locations where high intensity and
reliability are required.
 Major light: A light of high intensity and reliability exhibited from a
fixed structure (lighthouse) or on marine site (except range lights). Major
lights include primary sea-coast and secondary lights.
 Minor light: An automatic unmanned light on a fixed structure usually
showing low to moderate intensity. Minor lights are established in harbours,
along channels, along rivers, and in isolated dangers.
 Visual range: The extreme distance at which an object of light can be
seen.
 Geographic range: The extreme distance limited by the curvature of
the earth and both the heights of the object and the observer.
 Bobbing a light: Quickly lowering the height of eye and raising it
again when a navigational light is first sighted to determine if the observer is
at the geographic range of the light.
 Luminous range: The extreme distance limited only by the intensity
of the light, clearness of the atmosphere and the sensitiveness of the
observer's eye.
 Luminous range diagram: A diagram used to convert the nominal
range of a light to its luminous range under existing conditions.
 Charted or Nominal Range: The nominal range is indicated in the
chart next to the light or can be found in the Light List. This is the maximum
distance at which a light may be seen at night based upon intensity and 10
nautical miles of visibility.
 Meteorological Range: The nominal range is indicated in the chart
next to the light or can be found in the Light List. This is the maximum
distance at which a light may be seen at night based upon intensity and 10
nautical miles of visibility.

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