IALA(International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities)

General

1. Purpose of IALA system?

- To provide worldwide effective & harmonized marine aids to navigation service &
- To assist safe navigation & protection of environment.

2. How many type of buoys are there?

- Lateral mark
( Preferred channel mark )
- Cardinal mark
- Isolated danger mark
- Safe water mark
- Special mark
( New danger mark )
- Em’cy wreck marking buoy

3. Different between ‘Navigation aids’ and ‘Marine aids to navigation’?

- Navigation aids : Instruments used in navigation such as shipborne navigation equipments. Eg. Sextant, AIS. Etc….
- Marine aids to navigation : Aids for mariner in navigation. Eg. Buoys, lighthouse. Etc….

4. Did you know that the buoys which are not included in IALA system?
- Mooring buoy
- Anchor buoy
- Submarine buoy
5. How many type of retro-reflector?
- Comprehensive code :
▪ same colour as top mark
▪ in Lateral, Preferred Channel & Special Marks
(In Lateral, Preferred Channel & Special Marks, Standard code and Comprehensive code is same)
- Standard code :
▪ one or more white bands (or)
▪ letters, numerical, or symbols of retroreflective material are used
▪ in Cardinal, Isolated danger, safe water Marks which are used white light

6. Retro-reflector is day or night signal? For which buoy? (Buoy light is extinguished? How do you know?)
- Night Signal
- Use for unlit buoy (unlighted buoy)

7. Only pillar & spar shape buoys?

- Cardinal mark
- Isolated danger Mark
- Em’cy wreck marking buoy
Lateral Mark

1. How many direction of buoyage? (How many directions are used in lateral mark?)
- CONVENTIONAL DIRECTION OF BUOYAGE
➢ LOCAL DIRECTION OF BUOYAGE
The direction taken by Mariner when approaching a harbour, river, estuary or other water way from seaward.

➢ GENERAL DIRECTION OF BUOYAGE

The direction determined by buoyage authorities.
Clockwise direction Around the continents. Usually given in Admiralty Sailing direction.

2. What is Region(A) and Region(B)?

- Region(A) : Red to Port / Green to Stbd. [ Reverse when departing ]
- Region(B) : Red to Stbd / Green to Port. [ Reverse when departing ]
3. How did you see when you are approaching Singapore?
- Red to Port, Sir. Because Singapore is Region(A), Sir.

- Region(A) – Europe, Most of Asia, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

- Region(B) – North/Central/South America, North/South Korea, Japan, Philippine, etc.

4. How do you know you are in Region(A) or (B)?

- By country base, we can check easily in ‘Buoyage Region(A) & (B) Diagram of NP735.
- Check in Nautical Chart & Ecdis pick report.
- Check in sailing instruction.
- Check in agent information / port information.

5. When you see 2 lateral marks, what is your position?

- Inside the channel. (Lateral marks indicate the edges of a channel.)

6. When you depart from Singapore, you see Green Cone on your right ahead, take action? Identify this Green cone & which region?
- Singapore = Region (A)
- Tell ID
- I will alter my course to stbd, I will keep this buoy on my port side and I will proceed in the channel.

7. When you are entering to the port of Region (A) at night, find green light composite group flashing 2+1, identify this buoy.
- Prefer channel to port buoy.
- Continue answer “identification”.
Preferred Channel Mark

1. Can you alter course to stbd rather than to port when you see Preferred channel to port mark?
- Yes, sir. Can alter co. to stbd, because the divided channels are re-join for same destination. But, we have to more prefer to alter course to port, Sir.

2. Other name of Preferred channel mark?

- Modified Lateral Mark

3. When you depart from Singapore, you see Preferred channel to port mark on your right ahead, take action? (Will you alter co. to stbd?)
- I will alter my course to port, I will keep this buoy on my stbd side and I will proceed in the preferred channel. (Singapore = Region (A))

Cardinal Mark

1. Co. 000(T). Found East cardinal mark. Action? [180/East, 180/West?]

- A/Co to Stbd.

2. What exit in opposite side of Named Cardinal Mark?

- Point of Interest

3. What is ‘Point of Interest’?

- Extent danger or Assumed danger

4. Which mark are distinct among all cardinal marks?

- South cardinal mark. Because of including ‘long flashing light’.

5. Co. 090(T). Found West cardinal mark. Action? [ Co. 270(T). Found East cardinal mark. Action? ]
- I can alter to either directions, Sir. But, my destination is on my …………side. So, I alter my Co to ……………side. [I will find N/S cardinal mark. Then, I
will pass N of NCM or S of SCM]. (or)
- I am following the passage(voyage) plan and there is one alteration point (way point) to ………….side. So I will continuously follow the
passage(voyage) plan and alter course to this side.

6. HDG. 200(T). Found West cardinal mark. Action?

- A/C to Stbd.
7. HDG. 315(T). Found North cardinal mark. Action?
- A/C to Stbd.

8. Co. 270(T). Found West cardinal mark. Action? [ Co. 000(T). Found North cardinal mark. Action? ]
- 1st option : Position ascertain
Detail examine to passage plan, chart, ECDIS & Ensure buoy adrift
Keep clear it from safe distance (which is defined by SMS)
Announce to other vessel & Report to Master
Report to nearest coastal port authority as per Master order.

- 2nd option : Position ascertain

Detail examine to passage plan, chart, ECDIS
Found that I am approaching point of interest
Report to master
Reverse course (going astern) until arrival safe place/condition.
Amend passage plan

9. Quick & Very Quick Light’?

- Quick flashing : repetition rate of 50 to 79(usually 50- 60 )flashes per minute.
- Very Quick flashing : repetition rate of 80 to 159(usually 100- 120 )flashes per minute.
- Ultra Quick flashing : repetition rate of 160 or more (usually 240- 300 )flashes per minute.

Isolated Danger Mark

1. What is the different Isolated danger mark and cardinal mark which are showing danger?
- Cardinal mark – Extent danger
- Isolated danger mark - limited extent danger

2. E’ly wind, N’ly co., found Isolated danger mark, Action?

- A/Co to Port & Give a wide berth.
Safe Water Mark

1. What is the different between usage of Safe water mark & Isolated danger mark?
- Safe water mark – without danger of safe for navigation around them
- Isolated danger mark - with danger of safe for navigation around them

2. [by model] you are right under fixed bridge, take action?
- Alter co. to stbd and pass the buoy on port (if there is safe water buoy under the bridge) by practicing good seamanship.
3. What is Isophase? What is Occulting? Duration of ‘Long flashing Light,
- Isophase - A rhythmic light in which ‘ all duration of light & darkness are equal’.
- Occulting - A rhythmic light in which ‘ light duration is longer than darkness duration’.
- Flashing - A rhythmic light in which light duration is shorter than darkness duration.
- Long Flashing light - A rhythmic light in which light duration is shorter than darkness duration & not less than 2s duration.

4. Where can you find Safe water mark?

- Centerline or Mid-channel of traffic
- before commencing narrow channel or fairway as landfall or fairway buoy
- under the fix bridge to indicate the best point of passage

5. By model –
Green
Red

Region, Light, Name?

- Region(A)
- Red/Green light any rhythm other than composite group flashing (2+1)
- Lateral marks

Which buoy in here?

- Fairway / Landfall Buoy

Own ship

Which rule shall you follow?

- Rule 9(a)

R G
Special Mark

1. What is the meaning of ‘any light rhythm not used for white light’? Explain detail about the light?
- Any rhythm other than those used for white light of Isolated danger/Cardinal/Safe water Marks.

[ ln the case of ODAS buoys, the rhythm is group flashing with a group of 5 flashes every 20 seconds ]

2. What should not do when you see yellow buoys? What is your action when you see Yellow buoy? Why? Where should not anchor?
- Examine the charts. If this yellow buoys indicate cables or pipelines, we should not anchor around the yellow buoys.
- If yellow buoys indicate recreation zones or Military exercise zones, we should keep well clear this area.

3. When you are approaching TSS, you found special mark on right ahead, what is this means?
- Means the following TSS is Special Area for navigation and must follow Colreg72, Rule 10.
- Means following buoys after this special mark are as per IALA marine buoyage system.(NP 735)

4. You found special mark in Pacific Ocean, what is this buoy?

- ODAS buoy

New Danger Mark

1. How to understand Racon(D) signal length 1 mile?

- The signal length which is displayed on radar screen is 1 NM.

2. How to get information for new danger mark? Any more?

- From Racon Morse code(D) showing signal length 1NM
- From Navtex (MSI information)
- From Guard ship or Patrol boat or Police boat
- From VTS

3. What is Racon? ( How appear the Racon in Radar? Plot the Racon in sample 3 points in Radar?)
Racon : Radar Beacon or Radar Transponder Beacon – 1) fixed or floating aids to navigation & 2) transmit an own signal on receiving a radar signal from a
ship & 3) show range & brg of own signal on radar screen. 4) Signal is shown on radar display form its center location to outwards (away from center of
radar).
4. What action will you do as when meeting Newly Danger Mark? As per which regulation?
- Reduce speed
- Inform to Master [ As per Master Standing Order & STCW Code A Chapter VIII (Unexpectedly Sight land or navigation mark, Call Master)]
- Keep a sharp look-out
- M/E Stand-by
- Change Auto to Manual Steering
- Switch on Echo sounder
- Chart Assessment
- Plot the position
- Request & Follow instructions from patrol or police boat, and also follow MSI information from Navtex & INM-C
- Then, amend passage plan to alter course to the direction of above instructions & give a wide berth under Master order
- Follow amended passage plan & care warnings of VTS.

Emergency Wreck Mark

1. What is the meaning of ‘light should be synchronize’?

- In multiple buoys, all buoys flash yellow light at the same time & flash blue light at the same time.

2. How em’cy wreck marking buoys shall be installed for indicating wreck?
- Install as close to the wreck as possible
- In a pattern around the wreck within any other marks
3. Can you find Em’cy Wreck Buoy on the chart?
- No.

4. How to get information for em’cy wreck marking buoy? Any more? What can you find near em’cy wreck marking buoy?
- From Racon Morse code(D) and/or AIS
- From Navtex (MSI information)
- From Guard ship or Patrol boat or Police boat
- From VTS

5. How to take action when you see Em’cy Wreck Marking Buoys on your right ahead?
- Reduce speed
- Inform to Master [ As per Master Standing Order & STCW Code A Chapter VIII (Unexpectedly Sight land or navigation mark, Call Master)]
- Keep a sharp look-out
- M/E Stand-by
- Change Auto to Manual Steering
- Switch on Echo sounder
- Chart Assessment
- Plot the position
- Request & Follow instructions from patrol or police boat, and also follow MSI information from Navtex & INM-C
- Then, amend passage plan to alter course to the direction of above instructions & give a wide berth under Master order
- Follow amended passage plan & care warnings of VTS.

6. How many miles will you give a wide berth?

- As per instructions of patrol or police boat and MSI information from Navtex / Inm-C

7. What is ‘Nominal range’?

- Nominal range : maximum range at which a light can be seen when the visibility is 10NM.

8. Until when, Em’cy wreck marking buoy will be retained in position?

- Em’cy Wreck Marking Buoy should be retained in position until-
a)The wreck is well known and has been promulgated in nautical publications( ie NM. )
b)The wreck has been fully surveyed and exact detail such as position and least depth above the wreck are known.
c)A permanent form of marking of the wreck has been carried out.