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Bouys, Lights, Daymarks etc.

How not to run aground or hit anything.

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CARDINAL MARKS

DANGER

North CardinalSafe Passage to North2 arrows point up

East CardinalSafe Passage to East2 arrows point outEgg Shaped East

South CardinalSafe Passage to South2 arrows point down

West CardinalSafe Passage to West2 arrows point inWasp-Waisted West

Marks safe passage for BIG ships – may be safe just inside buoy – however – it may not

Not all dangers are surrounded by navigable waters – therefore it is rare to see all four cardinals in an area. Treat each one separately. i.e. go West of a WCM etc.

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CARDINAL MARKS – at night

DANGER

North CardinalContinuous Flashing White

East CardinalGroups of 3 flashesWhite

South Cardinal6 short and 1 long flashWhite

West CardinalGroups of 9 flashesWhite

Based on the clock:

12 flashes at the top, 3 at 3 o’clock etc.

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CHANNEL MARKERS

PORT HAND MARK

“Any Red Port Left in the Barrel?”

It’s red and has a barrell shaped top, it is left to port (left) on way into a harbour.

Flashes Red at night (pattern on chart to allow you to tell the difference between 2)

STARBOARD HAND MARK

It’s green and has a cone shaped top, it is left to starboard (right) on way into a harbour.

Flashes Green at night (pattern on chart to allow you to tell the difference between 2)

Again this is a big ship channel, small boats may be fine outside channel

A starboard mark with a red stripe indicates the channel splits, preferred route to port (i.e. it is still left on starboard) similarly for a port with green stripe, preferred to starboard

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SAFE WATER MARK

Red and White Vertical stripes with red ball on top

Navigable water all around – often used to mark the start of a channel

Flashes white at night – pattern described on chart

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ISOLATED DANGER MARK

Black and red horizontal stripes + 2 black balls

On top of a danger

Use chart to determine size of danger before passing close

Flashes in groups of 2 white at night.

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SPECIAL MARKS

Yellow

Used for Racing, Survey work, Pipes, Military Exercises etc.

Flash yellow, pattern on chart.

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CHART EXAMPLE

East Cardinal Mark

North Cardinal Mark

West Cardinal Mark

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DAYMARKS Used by ships to tell you what is going on.

Not Under Command

Motorsailing (loses rights of a Sailing boat)

Dredging or Underwater Ops(pass on Diamonds side)

Fishing or Trawling

Constrained byDraught

Minesweeper

Restricted in Ability toManoeuvre

Aground

Single black ball – at anchor