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Navigation Aids Directory

A complete visual guide to the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, detailing shapes, colors, topmarks, and light characteristics for safe navigation.

🧭Lateral Marks

Port Hand Mark

Red (Region A) / Green (Region B)

💡 Light Characteristic

Any rhythm other than Composite Group Flashing (2+1)

Starboard Hand Mark

Green (Region A) / Red (Region B)

Single Green Cone point upward

💡 Light Characteristic

Any rhythm other than Composite Group Flashing (2+1)

Preferred Channel to Starboard

Red with one broad Green horizontal band (Region A)

💡 Light Characteristic

Composite Group Flashing Fl(2+1)

Preferred Channel to Port

Green with one broad Red horizontal band (Region A)

Single Green Cone point upward

💡 Light Characteristic

Composite Group Flashing Fl(2+1)

🧭Cardinal Marks

North Cardinal Mark

Black above Yellow

Two black cones pointing upward

💡 Light Characteristic

Quick (Q) or Very Quick (VQ)

South Cardinal Mark

Yellow above Black

Two black cones pointing downward

💡 Light Characteristic

Q(6) + LFl 15s or VQ(6) + LFl 10s

East Cardinal Mark

Black with a single broad Yellow horizontal band

Two black cones base to base

💡 Light Characteristic

Q(3) 10s or VQ(3) 5s

West Cardinal Mark

Yellow with a single broad Black horizontal band

Two black cones point to point

💡 Light Characteristic

Q(9) 15s or VQ(9) 10s

🧭Other Marks

Isolated Danger Mark

Black with one or more broad Red horizontal bands

Two black spheres, one above the other

💡 Light Characteristic

Group Flashing Fl(2)

Safe Water Mark

Red and White vertical stripes

Single Red Sphere

💡 Light Characteristic

Isophase, Occulting, Long Flashing 10s, or Morse 'A'

Special Mark

Single Yellow 'X' shape

💡 Light Characteristic

Any rhythm not used for white lights (e.g., Fl Y, Fl(4) Y)

Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy

Blue and Yellow vertical stripes

Upright Yellow Cross '+'

💡 Light Characteristic