What do the different buoys mean?

Answer 1

Buoys and Buoyage systems are harmonised for safety purposes. There are two Regions A and B. The regions differ only in the use of green or red for lateral marks. Region A has red port hand markers whilst region B has green for the port hand.

There are five basic types of marks used, for navigation and safety they are;

Lateral marks.

Region A. Port hand marks are red,, can or spar shaped. If a topmark is fitted it is a single red can. Lights are, red any sequence. Starboard are green, conical or spar shaped, a topmark is a single green cone, point upwards. Lights are green, any sequence. Lateral marks may be numbered sequentially along the channel, even to port, odd to starboard.

Cardinal marks

Mark unsafe or dangerous areas. They are pillar or spar shaped painted black and yellow and always carry a double cone topmark, the orientation of the cones indicate the direction of the hazard and which side to pass it. The lights are white and are either quick or very quick.

Isolated danger marks

These marks are black with one or more horizontal red bands, they are pillar or spar shaped, lights are white flashing twice, with a topmark of two black spheres.

Safe water marks

These are spherical, pillar or spar shaped with a red spherical topmark. They are painted with red and white vertical stripes. Any light is white, occulting, isophase, Morse A or single long flash every 10 seconds.

Special marks

Are not primarily to assist navigation but indicate a special area, examples are, water ski area, underwater cables, outfalls, etc. They are yellow, any shape not conflicting with lateral or safe marks, topmark is a yellow X. Any light is yellow and the rhythm not used for white lights. For grave danger the marks may be duplicated.

In addition there are such things as mooring buoys. These are purely local and the authority in charge should ensure they cannot be confused with navigational buoys.

They are many colours and shapes, some of which are of local significance, so it would be important to find this information beforehand. For instance green cones may be private mooring areas.