LATERAL MARKS – REGION A

STARBOARD hand lateral mark in IALA region “A”.

Colour: Green
Shape (Buoys): Conical, Pillar, or Spar
Topmark (when fitted): Single green cone pointing upward
Lights: If fitted may have any rhythm other than composite group
flashing (2+1) used on modified Lateral marks indicating a preferred channel.
Examples are: Green light

Continuous quick light Q.G

Single flashing light Fl.G

Long flashing light L.Fl.G

Group flashing light Fl(2)G

PORT hand lateral mark in IALA region “A”.

Colour: Red
Shape (Buoys): Cylinderical (can), Pillar, or Spar
Topmark (when fitted): Single red cylinder (can)
Lights: when fitted may have any rhythm other than composite group
flashing (2+1) used on modified Lateral marks indicating a preferred channel.
Examples are: Redlight
Red light

Continuous quick light Q.R

Single flashing light Fl.R

Long flashing light L.Fl.R

Group flashing light Fl(2)R

Preferred channel to STARBOARD in IALA region “A”.
(placed to port)

Colour: Red with one broad green horizontal band

Shape (Buoys): Cylinderical (can), Pillar, or Spar
Topmark (when fitted): Single red cylinder (can)
Light:
Red light

Group flashing (2+1) light Fl(2+1)R

Preferred channel to PORT in IALA region “A”.

(placed to Stbd)

Colour: Green with one broad red horizontal band

Shape (Buoys): Conical, Pillar, or Spar
Topmark (when fitted): Single green cone point upward
Light:
Green light

Group flashing (2+1) light Fl(2+1)G

STARBOARD hand lateral mark in IALA region “B”.

Colour: Red
Shape (Buoys): Conical, Pillar, or Spar
Topmark (when fitted): Single red cone pointing upward
Lights: when fitted may have any rhythm other than composite
group flashing (2+1) used on modified Lateral marks indicating a preferred channel.
Examples are: Redlight
light
Red

Continuous quick light Q.R

Single flashing light Fl.R

Long flashing light L.Fl.R

Group flashing light Fl(2)R

PORT hand lateral mark in IALA region “B”.

Colour: Green
Shape (Buoys): Cylinderical (can), Pillar, or Spar
Topmark (when fitted): Single green cylinder (can)
Lights: when fitted may have any rhythm other than composite group
flashing (2+1) used on modified Lateral marks indicating a preferred channel.
Examples are: Green light

Continuous quick light Q.G

Single flashing light Fl.G

Long flashing light L.Fl.G

Group flashing light Fl(2)G

Preferred channel to STARBOARD in IALA region “B”.

Colour: Green with one broad red horizontal band

Shape (Buoys): Cylinderical (can), Pillar, or Spar
Topmark (when fitted): Single green cylinder (can)
Light:
Green light

Group flashing (2+1) light Fl(2+1)G

Preferred channel to PORT in IALA region “B”.

Colour: Red with one broad green horizontal band

Shape (Buoys): Conical, Pillar, or Spar
Topmark (when fitted): Single red cone point upward
Light:
Red light

Group flashing (2+1) light Fl(2+1)R

 CARDINAL MARKS
NORTH Cardinal Mark

Colour: Black band above a Yellow Band.

Shape (Buoys): Pillar or spar
Topmark (if fitted): Black double cone topmarks (one vertically above the other),
both pointing up
Retroreflector: Two bands of tape, blue over yellow
Light: When lighted, a North cardinal mark shows a white light of
uninterupted very quick or quick flashes.

VQ

EAST Cardinal Mark

Colour: Black bands above and below a yellow band

Shape (Buoys): Pillar or spar
Topmark (if fitted): Black double cone topmarks (one vertically above the other),
both pointing outward
Retroreflector: Two bands of tape, both blue on the black parts
Light: When lighted, an East cardinal mark shows a white light of 3
flashes in a group, either very quick or quick flashes.

VQ(3)5s

Q(3)10s
 SOUTH Cardinal Mark

Colour: Black band beneath a Yellow band.

Shape (Buoys): Pillar or spar
Topmark (if fitted): Black double cone topmarks (one vertically above the other),
both pointing downward.
Retroreflector: Two bands of tape, yellow over blue
Light: When lighted, a South cardinal mark shows a white light of 6
flashes followed by one long flash, based on a group of (Q)
quick flashes or (VQ) very quick flashes.

Q(6)+L.Fl.15s

VQ(6)+L.Fl.10s

WEST Cardinal Mark

Colour: A yellow buoy with a broad black band around the middle.
Shape (Buoys): Pillar or spar
Topmark (if fitted): Black double cone topmarks (one vertically above the other),
both pointing inwards
Retroreflector: Two bands of tape, both yellow on the yellow parts
Light: When lighted, a West cardinal mark shows a white light of 9
flashes, based on a group of (Q) quick flashes or (VQ) very
quick flashes.
Q(9)15s

VQ(9)10s
1C)
 ISOLATED DANGER MARK

Colour: A black buoy with one or more broad red bands

Shape (Buoys): Pillar or spar
Topmark (if carried): A black double sphere topmark (one sphere vertically above
the other)
Retroreflector: A blue band above a red band
Light: When lighted, an Isolated Danger mark shows a white
flashing light showing a group of two flashes.

Fl(2)

SAFE WATER MARK

Colour: A white buoy with red stripes

Shape (Buoys): Spherical, pillar or spar
Topmark (if fitted): A red sphere
Light: When lighted a Safe Water Mark Light shows a white light
either Isophase, or Occulting, or Long Flashing every 10
seconds, or morse A.

Isophase (equal)

Occulting (flashing dark)

L.Fl.10s

Mo (A)
 SPECIAL MARKS

Colour: Yellow
Shape (Buoys): Optional, but must not conflict with those used for
Lateral or Safe water marks. May be Port Hand
(Can shaped) or Starboard Hand (Conical
shaped).
Topmark (if carried): A single yellow X is used for Special Marks
Retroreflectors : A yellow band, an X or a symbol.
Light: Light, when fitted, is yellow, and may have any
rhythm not used for white lights.