UNIT 3

Buoyage

Objectives of Unit 3
3.1 Buoyage systems and types of buoys
3.1.1 Shapes
3.1.2 Lights: characteristics
3.1.3 Topmarks
3.1.4 Colours
3.1.5 Miscellaneous
3.2 Buoyage: tasks
Self-assessment test
Progress test
Answers to self-assessment test
Bibliography / Webography
OBJECTIVES OF UNIT 3

The main objectives are:

 understand the buoyage system
 identify types of buoys
 name the characteristics of buoys
 use idioms related to buoyage

3.1 Buoyage systems and types of buoys

The main buoyage systems that are employed worldwide are the
Lateral buoyage system and the Cardinal buoyage system.
Buoys in the Lateral system are used to indicate the port-and
starboard sides of the fairways.
The Lateral system is subdivided into two separate systems: the
IALA-A system and IALA-B-system (IALA stands for International
Association of Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities).
Most countries in the world employ the A-system: the starboard
side of the fairway is indicated by the green-colored conical
shape, and the port side is indicated by the red-colored can-
shape. America and some Oriental countries employ the B-system: starboard is
indicated by a red-colored cone, and port is indicated by a green-colored can.

Buoys in the Cardinal system are used to indicate how to pass a danger (e.g. a wreck) in
a certain quadrant or area.
The position of the danger is indicated by North-, South-, East-and West Cardinal buoys.
They will give the navigator information regarding the vessel's position in reference to the
position of the danger. Cardinal buoys are pillar-or spar-shaped.

Special buoys indicate special features in the fairway that can be looked up in the Pilot
book. They may have any shape and are fitted with a yellow light.
Landfall marks mark safe water of sufficient depth and indicate that one approaches the
coast. They are pillar-, spar-or spherical-shaped and are fitted with a white light.
Isolated danger marks are pillar- or spar-shaped and are fitted with a white light.
3.1.1 Shapes of buoys

In the buoyage systems we know can buoys, conical buoys (cones), pillar buoys, spar buoys and
spherical buoys (spheres).

The red or green colored can and conical buoys are used to indicate the sides of the fairway.

In the lateral system these shapes actually have meanings: they indicate starboard and port side.

The shapes of pillar buoys and spar buoys do not give any information. In order to assess their
meanings one must distinguish them by their topmarks (or daymarks), light characteristics or
colors. Pillar buoys and spar buoys can be used to indicate the sides of the fairway.

To indicate port or starboard-side, they must be fitted with a can-shaped or conical-shaped

topmark.

Spar buoys are used when navigation is hampered by ice. These buoys are not easily carried away
by ice floes in the fairway. Spherical buoys are used to indicate special features in the fairway
(special buoys) and to indicate safe water (landfall buoys).

3.1.2 Lights: characteristics

The lights that are used in the buoyage systems are the Fixed light. the Flashing fight, the
Occulting light and the Isophase light. These lights are indicated by the abbreviations F, FI,
Oc and Iso. Group lights are flashing-or occulting lights in which the light-intervals are
exhibited in groups that are repeated at regular intervals, for example FI(3) or Oc(2).

The Fixed light is a light that shines continuously.

Its abbreviation is F. It may be used on lateral buoys.
The Flashing light is a light with a short
light interval and a long dark interval. Its
abbreviation is Fl, but in nautical charts
the abbreviations of the corresponding
rhythms Q (quick) or VQ (very quick) are
used.

Flashing lights are used on lateral buoys, cardinal buoys, special marks, landfall buoys and
isolated danger buoys. At night the Cardinal buoy is identified by the number of white
flashes (Q or VQ). The N Cardinal carries a continuously flashing light ("Q or VQ"); the W
Cardinal has 9 flashes ("Q9 or VQ9"); the E Cardinal has 3 ("Q3 or VQ3"), and the S
Cardinal has 6 flashes, followed by 1 long flash in order not to mistake her with the W
Cardinal (Q6 + 1LFL or VQ6 + 1LFL).

The characteristic of the Occulting light is contrary to that of the flashing light: the
occulting light has a long light interval and a short dark interval. In other words: it is an
interrupted light. Its abbreviation is Oc.

It is used on lateral buoys, special buoys, landfall buoys and isolated danger buoys.

The Isophase light has a light interval and a dark interval of equal durations. Its
abbreviation is ISO. It is used on lateral buoys, special buoys, landfall buoys and isolated
danger buoys.

The Alternating light (Al) is a light that shows different colors alternately, for example
AIWGR (Alternating light White/Green/Red).

The applications of the types of lights are determined by the fact whether a light is
conspicuous or not. The most conspicuous light by
far is the Flashing light. Therefore it is always used
to indicate danger. The least conspicuous light is
the Fixed light. Therefore it should merely be used
to illuminate an object or an area. Because of the conspicuous colors red and green,
however, a fixed light is often used in the Lateral buoyage systems.

3.1.3 Topmarks (Daymarks)

Buoys are not only distinguished by their shapes and colors, but also by their topmarks
(daymarks)

The shapes of these topmarks may be a can, a cone, a sphere or a cross.

Lateral pillar - or spar buoys are fitted with red or green can-shaped or conical topmarks.
When the buoys are can- or conical shaped themselves, they are not fitted with any
topmarks.

Cardinal buoys are fitted with two black cones.

North is indicated by two cones points up;

South is indicated by two cones points down;

West is indicated by two cones point to

point;

East is indicated by two cones base to base.

The special buoy, whose meaning is

indicated in the pilot book, carries a yellow cross.

The safe water buoy (landfall buoy) is fitted with a single red sphere.

The isolated danger buoy carries two black spheres.

3.1.4 Colors

Colors used in the buoyage systems are red, green, yellow, black and white.

The colors red and green are used in the Lateral systems.

In the IALA-A system, counting from seaward, red indicates port side and green indicates
starboard side. In the IALA-B system red indicates starboard side and green Red can buoy
and green cone: IALA-A indicates port side.

The combination of the color yellow with the color black is used in the Cardinal Buoyage
System. These buoys carry conical topmarks. The color black on the buoy is positioned in
such a way that it corresponds with the direction in which the cones are pointing. Thus
cardinal buoys can be recognized not only by their topmarks, but also by the color
combinations.

-black over yellow: North

-yellow over black: South

-yellow with a black band: West

-black with a yellow band: East.

The color red in combination with the color black is used on isolated
danger marks.

These buoys are red and black horizontally striped.

The color red in combination with the color white is used to indicate
safe water - e.g. in the middle of the channel.

These buoys are the “red and white vertical stripes” landfall buoys. (RWVS- buoys)

The yellow special buoy is used to indicate special features of the fairway. Information as to
its exact meaning must be looked up in the pilot-book of that area.

3.1.5 Miscellaneous

Numbers on Lateral buoys are not merely used for registration, but also indicate the sides of
the fairway. Counting from seaward an even number will indicate port side.

An odd number will indicate starboard side.

In "complicated" areas, i.e. areas with many inland waterways where rivers bifurcate into
branches that also have bifurcations; it may be quite difficult to assess port- or starboard
side.

In order to facilitate navigation in these waters, the charted sailing direction is indicated by
means of an arrow,

Apart from fairways with port- and starboard sides, coastal waters may be buoyed by lateral
marks as well. The coastal side will then be indicated by a starboard buoy.

Charted direction is "clockwise around the continents".

3.2 Buoyage: tasks

 1) Idioms

The italicized words in the text are given below in alphabetical order.
Find out what they mean as they appear in the text and learn them by heart.

abbreviation conspicuous indicate

anti-clockwise contrary to inland waterway

application corresponding rhythm interrupt

approach determine isophase light

bifurcate distinguish landfall buoy

bifurcation duration occulting light

buoyage employ odd numbers

can exhibit pillar buoy

channel facilitate sphere

chart fairway spherical

charted direction feature subdivide

clockwise fixed light wreck

cone flashing light

conical illuminate
 Self-assessment Test
Choose the right meaning.
1. "to occur"
a. to persuade; to happen; to come into somebody's mind;
2. "to suit"
a. to be convenient to; to make suits; to fit;
3. "to swing"
a. to hang; to sway or wave to and fro;to oscillate;
4. "to crack"
a. to fracture; to cram; to break partially or suddenly;
5. "to count"
a. to have a certain value; to number; to sum up.

Answers to self-assessment test

Choose the right meaning.
"to occur"
a.to persuade; b. to happen; c.to come into somebody's mind;
"to suit"
a.to be convenient to; b. to make suits; c. to fit;
"to swing"
a. to hang; b.to sway or wave to and fro; c. to oscillate;
"to crack"
a. to fracture; b. to cram; c. to break partially or suddenly;
"to count"
a. to have a certain value; b. to number; c. to sum up.

Progress test
Read the text and identify the buoys:

Tanker Great Yarmouth Princess - GBCH - underway from Capo

Michaella to San Pedro, with a full cargo of crude oil, passes buoy A
(marking a sewer-outfall off the coast of the little fishing village of St.
Christobal).
After passing waypoint, proceeding on course 345 degrees true at 12
knots, buoy B (marking the position of submarine pipeline) is kept at
starboard side.
To avoid dangers to navigation (X1 and X2), the track leads clear
between the dangerous wreck
(buoys C and D) and the shoals (buoys E and F).
The wreck is kept at starboard side. The shoals are kept at port side.
With the N Cardinal south of us, we are proceeding on course 270
degrees, speed 12 knots, until buoy G, indicating the approach to
the coast, is straight ahead. Now we make for the area N of the
isolated danger (buoy H) into the restricted waters of San Pedro
Bay, where the river pilot embarks.
We now enter the Lateral Buoyage System (IALA-B) of the River
Guadaljerez (Sb. and P. buoys I) and proceed at a speed of 5 knots
towards our designated river berth.

Bibliography / Webography

1. Georgescu, M. , Maritime English, Students’ Coursebook, 3rd year, 1st

term (on www.cmu-edu.eu)

2. Georgescu, M., Outboard Communication, (2010), Nautica Press,

Constanţa, ISBN 978-606-8105-13-0

3. Chirea-Ungureanu, C. English Grammar in Use-Exercises and

Quizzes, (2010), Editura Nautica, ISBN 978-606-8105-14-7

4. Chirea-Ungureanu, C. Developing English Communication and

Understandimg Skills on Board Ship, (2013), Editura Crizon, Constanta,
ISBN 978-606-8476-09-4

5. Van Kluijven, P.C. – The International Maritime Language

Programme, Alk & Heijnen Publishers, Alkmaar, 2005.

6. Logie, Vivers, Nisbet, Marlins Study Pack 2 (book and two audio
cassettes). Edinburgh, Marlins, 1998 (ISBN 09531748 1 6)