A Review of the IALA-BAid to Navigation System

Presented by the members of:

The USCG Auxiliary

First Northern,

Aid to Navigation Team

AV Training ObjectivesAV 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.

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.

System Modes

Region “A” Green Even Triangles Red Odd Squares

Region “B” has:

Red – Even - Triangles and nuns.

Green - Odd - Squares and cans.

System Names

U.S. Marking SystemU.S. Marking SystemIntracoastal Waterway System

Western River System

U. S. Marking SystemU. S. Marking SystemIs 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 RedRed RightRight ReturningReturning fromfrom thethe seasea

Conventional Directionof 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

Conventional Direction of Buoyage

ICW

ICW

Definition of an Aid to Definition of an Aid to NavigationNavigation

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 otherdangers to navigation.

2

7

6

Definition of a BuoyDefinition 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.

Nun Buoy

6Keep this

aid to your right

when returning

from seaward.

Lighted Red Buoy

CanBuoy

7

Green Can Buoy

Lighted Green Buoy

Definition of a BeaconDefinition of a Beacon

Any fixed aid to navigation located

on a shore or marine site.

Lighted beacons are called LightsLights..

Unlighted beacons are called

DaybeaconsDaybeacons or DaymarksDaymarks..

2

Definition of a DaymarkDefinition 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.

Red Daymark

2

Red Daymark on Dolphin (Lighted) – Small Light

Green Daymark

3

Starboard Lateral Marks

Color: RedShape: Triangularor Conical.Character: Even

NumbersLight: Red

SMALL

LIGHT

Nun

Daymark

Buoy with

Light structure

Port Lateral Marks

Color: Green

Shape: Squares

and Cans

Character: Odd

Numbers

Light: Green

1 2

3

5 6

7 8

910

12

2

3

Any questions on the IALA-B lateral system?

OK . . .

Let’s add in a few more buoys

Preferred Channel Marks

Purpose: Marks junctions / bifurcation'sDescription:

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

NN

A

In the Main Channel – pass on your Port side.In the Secondary Channel, pass to your

Starboard side.

When returning from the sea.

1 2

3

5 6

7 8

910

12

2

3

How do you know which is the main

channel?

You always have to reference your nautical chart!

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

G

NN

NC

Safe Water Marks

MR

Spherical

Lighted and or sound

Lighted Safe Water Buoy

SOLAR PANELS

WHITE LIGHT

Isolated Danger MarkIsolated 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

D

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)

A

BCA

Special Marks

Regulatory and Regulatory and Information MarksInformation MarksDiamond - 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

Information and Regulatory Marks

DANGER

ExclusionArea

RestrictedOperations

DANGERIf lighted

White only

OOPs!

Is there something missing?5

MPH

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

DANGER

EXCLUSION AREA

RESTRICTEDOPERATIONS

DANGER

NO WAKE ROCK

Restricted Operations - Minimum Wake

Restricted Operations - Manatee Zone

Do you see any other potential discrepancies?

Danger

Restricted Operations - No Wake

CHECK IT OUT!

Restricted Operations Area

Restricted Operations - No Wake

Be careful near this aid.

Watch out for shoaling.

Exclusion Area - No Anchoring

Definition of a Range

A pair of beacons arranged so

that when they are aligned they

indicate the center of the

navigable channel.

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.

Range Marks

Second(forward) Range Mark First

(Rear)Range Mark

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)

WRWR

2

LOCATION MARK

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

N

A

DANGER

21

2

3

3

65

7 8

109

21

Lights

Light StructuresMajor 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.

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).

Light PatternsGroup 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.

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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)

Chart SymbolsCAN - Green Diamond withsmall watch circle

NUN – Red diamond with small watch circle.

Watch circle overprinted with magenta when lighted.

Italics used for buoys and other floating aids.

Symbols - Daymarks and Minor Lights

Minor Light - Magenta exclamation mark

(teardrop) with black dotRoman type letters used for

fixed marks

Green Daymark

Green square.

Red Daymark

Red triangle

1

2

57

87

88

89

90

91

A

21

2

3

3

65

7 8

109

21

92

N

DANGER

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.

Intracoastal Waterway Marks

Yellow Yellow retro-reflective retro-reflective triangles, squares and bands.

RedRed day marks, buoys and minor lights usually have yellowyellow retro-reflective triangles.

Yellow retro-reflective squares usually go on greengreen lateral marks.

Yellow Yellow retro-reflective bandsretro-reflective bands are on non-lateral ATONS.

Intracoastal Waterway

Red Daymark/Minor Light with ICW Mark

ICW Triangle

Green Daymark/Minor Light with ICW Mark

ICW Square

Dual Purpose Marks Mark U.S. ATON and the ICW. Sometimes yellowyellow triangle on square

daymark and yellow yellow square on triangle daymark.

To follow the ICW, use yellowyellow marks. When following original waterway,

follow the (redred or greengreen) lateral marks.

Intracoastal Waterway Marks

Dual Purpose Marks

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

Electronic Aids To Navigation

• Loran-C• Good when corrected.

• GPSGPS - Global Positioning Systems- 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.

REVIEW

87

88

89

90

91

A

21

2

3

3

65

7 8

109

21

92

N

DANGER

Any more questions about

Aids to Navigation?

Thank You

A good reason to A good reason to take it slow and take it slow and

watch where watch where you’re going!you’re going!