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Aids to Navigation reviewer

Simple reviewer for nav aids

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Zhean Greenwood
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23 views

Aids to Navigation reviewer

Simple reviewer for nav aids

Uploaded by

Zhean Greenwood
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Aids to Navigation (AtoN)

In this article we discuss about the importance of Marine Aids to Navigation (AtoN, ATON) and
briefly introduce different ATON marks based on IALA’s Maritime Buoyage System.

Aid to navigation facilitates safe and efficient navigation usually on waterways or air. In this article we
focus on marine ATON on waterways.

Marine ATON is external to a vessel and its’ purpose is to improve marine safety and efficiency of
navigation: assists position or safe course or warns of dangers or obstructions.

For guidance on choosing right equipment for your marine ATON applications download our Quick
Guide!
Download Quick Guide

Importance of Aids to Navigation


Despite all e-navigation work taking place in the industry, the physical Aids to Navigation remain as
the workhorse of guiding vessel traffic and we do not expect this changing in the nearby future. On the
contrary, as the ships grow larger and the safety margins in the channels become smaller, the physical
Aids to Navigation becomes more critical for the ship’s crew.

Different Aids to Navigation


Generally Aids to Navigation can be divided into different categories, in this article we focus on visual
signals.

Visual signals. Visual signals are either fixed or floating ATONs, which can be either lit
(lighthouses, beacons or buoys) or unlit (unlit buoys or daymarks like sign boards).
Sound signals for example fog signals.
Radio AtoNs, for example Racon and AIS. For more information on AIS: read our Quick
Guide on AIS for ATON.
Satellite-based positioning systems.
Visual Aids to Navigation include also man-made objects like tv masts and natural objects
such as headlands and capes.

Visual ATON Signals - IALA Maritime Buoyage System


This online article is an advisory summary of different ATON marks. For detailed recommendations
refer to IALA Maritime Buoyage System.

Regions
Buoyage system has been geographically divided into two regions; A and B. Lateral marks differ
between Buoyage Regions A and B, and other five types of marks are common.

ATON Marks
Lateral marks indicate the edge of a channel. In a river, the direction of buoyage is towards the
river's source and in a harbour, the direction of buoyage is into the harbour from the sea. Red and green
colors mark the port (left-hand) and starboard (right-hand) sides of channel in Region A, and reversed
colors red to starboard and green to port in Region B. Therefore the area between red and green buoy is
a safe route for a vessel to navigate. In some regions also bifurcation buoys are used to mark out the
preferred channel.

Cardinal marks are different shaped yellow-black sea marks with top-mark. They indicate the
direction of safe waterway, cardinal (compass) direction (north, east, south or west) relative to the
mark. Cardinal mark can also indicate of a hazard.

Isolated danger mark is black-red colored and placed on or near to a danger. Safe water mark, also
called a Fairway buoy is red-white colored and indicates navigable water around it. Special marks are
yellow and they indicate a special area for example cables, pipelines, spoil ground, aquaculture or
recreation zone. New danger marks are newly discovered hazards and wrecks that may not be shown
in nautical documents. They are blue-yellow.

For marking different ATON applications around the world we offer a wide selection of buoy lanterns
including both standalone (externally powered) and solar self-contained lanterns.

Self-contained solar lantern M650H on a red buoy.

Other marks are visual ATON signals assisting mariners in the navigation and not necessarily mark
channel limits or obstructions.

1. Leading lines/ranges Leading lights, also referred to as range lights, are beacons that are
used both day and night to mark safe passage for vessels along a fairway, through a shallow
or dangerous channel, or when entering ports. They provide precise analog visual feedback
to determine the vessel’s location relative to the center of the channel. Leading lines can be
any color or shape that provides a distinctive mark from the background, determined by
competent authority.

LO200M range lights marking the leading line.


2. Sector lights display different colors and/or rhythms and the color of the light provides
directional information to the mariner. Omnidirectional sector lights can cover multiple
fairways with a single installation. They can also be used to mark out very wide sectors.
When AtoN lighting needs to provide extremely precise guidance only projector sector
lights can deliver the required accuracy. Some models of projector sector light can include
an oscillating boundary. It gives more information of position near the sector boundary to
the mariner by creating a light character with alternately flashing colours to further help the
mariner to obtain his lateral position related to the mid of the safe channel.
For more detailed guidance on choosing right marine lantern for specific applications see
our QUICK GUIDE ATON SIGNALS focusing on sector, leading and PEL lights.

Sector light ODSL 200 with different colored sectors cover multiple fairways at a same
time.

3. Lighthouses are towers or substantial structures which show a signal light by night and
operate as a significant daymark during daytime. Lighthouse structures can be of any color,
shape or material.

Rotating lighthouse beacon VRB-25 combines LED technology with traditional rotating
beam.

Sabik Lighthouse Unit SLU modernizes the technology of the traditional lighthouses while
preserving the historic heritage and look.
4. Beacons and other short range ATON are fixed navigation marks that can be of for
example different shapes, colors and patterns. They can carry a signal light or operate unlit
only as a daymark.
LED 160 on a fixed beacon in a large commercial port.

5. Major floating aids include for example light vessels or large navigational buoys. They are
deployed at critical locations with a heavy shipping traffic to mark approach from offshore
areas. They can also be a plaform for other ATON such as AIS.

Lightvessels act as lighthouses in waters that are unsuitable for fixed constructions.
6. Auxiliary Marks are other minor ATON marks that are not previously described. They do
not mark routes or obstructions and they are usually outside defined channels. They are
used to assist navigation and convey information for general navigational safety.

Auxililiary mark indicating cable lines in Finland.


7. Port or harbor marks are local marking measures like bridge lights and port traffic signals.
Before transiting an area for the first time, mariners should be aware of local ATON
marking.
Sabik all-round LED 160 lanterns as bridge lights.

This online article is an advisory summary of different ATON marks. For detailed regulations refer to
IALA Maritime Buoyage System; definitions and descriptions regarding each of the above marks, their
color, shape, top mark, numbering, synchronization and light rhythm on full document R1001 IALA
Recommendation IALA Maritime Buoyage System downloadable.

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