Each mark indicates the edge of the safe water channel in terms of port (left-hand) or starboard (right-hand). These directions are relative to the direction of buoyage; this is usually a nominally upstream direction. In a river, the direction of buoyage is towards the river's source; in a harbour, the direction of buoyage is into the harbour from the sea. Where there may be doubt, it will be labelled on the appropriate chart. Often the cardinal mark system is used instead when confusion about the direction would be common.
A vessel heading in the direction of buoyage (e.g. into a harbour) and wishing to keep in the main channel should:
A Region A lateral mark, showing both the green color and the triangular symbol, denoting the channel at the entrance to the Port River near Adelaide, South Australia
Marks are distinguished by their shape and colour, being red or green.
For historical reasons, two different schemes are in use worldwide, differing in their use of colour. Previously there had been 30 different buoyage systems, before IALA rationalised the system. In 1980 on a conference convened by IALA, they agreed to adopt the rules of a new combined system, which combined the previous two systems (A and B) into one system, with two regions (A and B).[1]
The IALA defines them as Region A and Region B:
Region Aedit
System A: Red port / green starboard marks when entering from sea into Le Palais, France
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
(Port) (Left) (Green)
(Starboard) (Right) (Red)
Both regionsedit
Red is region A, green is region B, showing the colour for port.
port marks are square or have a flat top
starboard marks are conical (or present a triangular shape) or have a pointed top.
The shape is an important feature, as colours cannot be distinguished in some light conditions, or by persons with red-green colour blindness. Marks may also carry unique markings of letters and numbers; these may be used to identify the mark as one indicated on a nautical chart. Likewise, a mark's light may flash in a distinctive sequence for the same purpose.
When a channel divides, as for instance a channel to a smaller harbour off a main river, then a preferred channel or bifurcation mark is used. The mark has the same shape and main colour as a port- or starboard- hand mark for the main channel. It bears in addition a horizontal band with the appropriate colour for the smaller channel. For example: region A, main channel straight on, creek leading to marina to port. The buoy where the channels divide would be a red cylindrical can or pillar with a cylindrical top mark. Around the middle would be a green band. In IALA region B the shape would be identical, but the main colour would be green with a red band.[4] See the buoy by the island in the diagram above.
In Region A only, the phrase "Is there any red port left?" (referring to the red colour of the fortified wine "port") may be used as a mnemonic, indicating that a red mark must be kept on the left when "returning" to (i.e., entering) a harbour or river.
In Region B only, the phrase "red right returning" may be used as a mnemonic, indicating that a red mark must be kept on the right when returning to (i.e., entering) a harbour or river.
^Pub 120, Sailing Directions (Planning Guide), Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia (Twelfth ed.). National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, USA. 2015.
^. Port of Gunsan. Gunsan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
^Maritime buoyage system and other aids to navigation, IALA (International association of maritime aids to navigation and lighthouse authorities), 2010, pp. 10–11
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lateral marks (System A) and Lateral marks (System B).
A web site of Transport Canada, showing lateral buoys in Region B.
January 16, 2024
lateral, mark, lateral, buoy, lateral, post, lateral, mark, defined, international, association, marine, aids, navigation, lighthouse, authorities, mark, used, maritime, pilotage, indicate, edge, channel, visual, buoyage, region, each, mark, indicates, edge, s. A lateral buoy lateral post or lateral mark as defined by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities is a sea mark used in maritime pilotage to indicate the edge of a channel Visual Buoyage Region B By day Each mark indicates the edge of the safe water channel in terms of port left hand or starboard right hand These directions are relative to the direction of buoyage this is usually a nominally upstream direction In a river the direction of buoyage is towards the river s source in a harbour the direction of buoyage is into the harbour from the sea Where there may be doubt it will be labelled on the appropriate chart Often the cardinal mark system is used instead when confusion about the direction would be common A vessel heading in the direction of buoyage e g into a harbour and wishing to keep in the main channel should keep port marks to its port left side and keep starboard marks to its starboard right side Contents 1 IALA System 1 1 Region A 1 2 Region B 1 3 Both regions 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksIALA System edit nbsp A Region A lateral mark showing both the green color and the triangular symbol denoting the channel at the entrance to the Port River near Adelaide South AustraliaMarks are distinguished by their shape and colour being red or green For historical reasons two different schemes are in use worldwide differing in their use of colour Previously there had been 30 different buoyage systems before IALA rationalised the system In 1980 on a conference convened by IALA they agreed to adopt the rules of a new combined system which combined the previous two systems A and B into one system with two regions A and B 1 The IALA defines them as Region A and Region B Region A edit nbsp System A Red port green starboard marks when entering from sea into Le Palais Francecomprises Europe Africa and most of Asia and Oceania as well as Greenland 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 nbsp Port Left Red Starboard Right Green Region B edit comprises the Americas Japan South Korea 2 the Philippines Taiwan 3 Hawaii and Easter Island 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 nbsp Port Left Green Starboard Right Red Both regions edit nbsp Red is region A green is region B showing the colour for port port marks are square or have a flat top starboard marks are conical or present a triangular shape or have a pointed top The shape is an important feature as colours cannot be distinguished in some light conditions or by persons with red green colour blindness Marks may also carry unique markings of letters and numbers these may be used to identify the mark as one indicated on a nautical chart Likewise a mark s light may flash in a distinctive sequence for the same purpose When a channel divides as for instance a channel to a smaller harbour off a main river then a preferred channel or bifurcation mark is used The mark has the same shape and main colour as a port or starboard hand mark for the main channel It bears in addition a horizontal band with the appropriate colour for the smaller channel For example region A main channel straight on creek leading to marina to port The buoy where the channels divide would be a red cylindrical can or pillar with a cylindrical top mark Around the middle would be a green band In IALA region B the shape would be identical but the main colour would be green with a red band 4 See the buoy by the island in the diagram above In Region A only the phrase Is there any red port left referring to the red colour of the fortified wine port may be used as a mnemonic indicating that a red mark must be kept on the left when returning to i e entering a harbour or river In Region B only the phrase red right returning may be used as a mnemonic indicating that a red mark must be kept on the right when returning to i e entering a harbour or river See also edit nbsp Geography portalCardinal mark Isolated danger mark Safe water mark Special mark Emergency wreck buoyReferences edit Maritime Buoyage System Archived 2006 10 08 at the Wayback Machine Pub 120 Sailing Directions Planning Guide Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia Twelfth ed National Geospatial Intelligence Agency USA 2015 International Maritime Buoyage System Port of Gunsan Gunsan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries Archived from the original on 9 May 2018 Retrieved 9 May 2018 Maritime buoyage system and other aids to navigation IALA International association of maritime aids to navigation and lighthouse authorities 2010 pp 10 11External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to wbr Lateral marks System A and wbr Lateral marks System B A web site of Transport Canada showing lateral buoys in Region B Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lateral mark amp oldid 1165007164, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
