IALA BUOYAGE SYSTEM AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF MARKS.

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(IALA)
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MARINE AIDS TO NAVIGATION AND LIGHTHOUSE AUTHORITIES.

In 1975 there were more than 30 different buoyage systems in use all over the world. The development of the uniform system was a very important thing for example imagine that what would happen if more than one system was in use around the world different systems means different rules in complete conflict with one another it would cause confusion and lead to accidents.

Finally it was decided by IALA that there will be 2 regions –
Region A and Region B

Reason A includes Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the gulf and some more Asian countries.

Reason B comparises of North America, South America, Central America Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.

 

IALA buoyage system provides six types of marks:

• Lateral marks
• Cardinal marks
• Isolated danger Marks
• Safe Water Marks
• Special Marks
• Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy

Lateral marks

Region A

  • port marks are red and may have a red flashing light of any rhythm except 2+1.
  • starboard marks are green and may have a green flashing light of any rhythm except 2+1.
Lateral system a mark.svg
(Port) (Left) (Red) (Starboard) (Right) (Green)

Region B

  • port marks are green and may have a green flashing light of any rhythm except 2+1
  • starboard marks are red and may have a red flashing light of any rhythm except 2+1
Lateral system b mark.svg
(Port) (Left) (Green) (Starboard) (Right) (Red)

PREFERRED CHANNEL

 

PREFERRED CHANNEL TO STARBOARD PREFERRED CHANNEL TO PORT
COLOUR RED, GREEN, RED HORIZONTAL STRIPES GREEN, RED, GREEN HORIZONTAL STRIPES
BUOY SHAPE CYLINDRICAL(CAN), PILLAR, SPAR CONICAL, PILLAR, SPAR
TOPMARK SINGLE RED CYLINDER(CAN) SINGLE GREEN CONE POINTING UPWARD
LIGHT COLOUR RED GREEN
LIGHT RYTHM COMPOSITE GROUP FLASH (2+1) COMPOSITE GROUP FLASH (2+1)

Cardinal mark

When a cardinal mark is seen, remember that clear and navigable water lies on the named side of the mark

Diagram of cardinal marks as seen during the day, with their light patterns. The lights shown here are configured as “Quick”.

3. SAFE WATERMARKS

A safe watermark indicated the end of a channel ,it usually implies that open , deep and safe water lies ahead. It is sometimes also used to indicate the start and end of a buoyed section of a continuous narrow channel , or a line of these marks can be used to mark of a safe route through shallow water. It is therefore important to consult an appropriate chart to determine the exact meaning in each case . The marker is also sometimes known as a Fairway Buoy.

4. ISOLATED DANGER MARKS:  

Examples of Isolated Danger Marks

An Isolated Danger Mark, as defined by the IALA, is a sea mark used in maritime pilotage to indicate a hazard to shipping such as a partially submerged rock.

Its distinctive sequence of flashing white light consists of 2 quick flashes with intervals of 5 seconds.

5. SPECIAL MARK:

Special marks can indicate: