Buoys

Question 1

Fairway

Answer 1

• Lateral
• “Safewater” marking landfalls, channel entrances and centers
• should be kept on port side, can be passed on either side
• Red and white vertical stripes
• letters, no numbers
• white light (Morse or Long flash)
• if unlighted, top is spherical

Question 2

Port Hand

Answer 2

• lateral: marks left side of channel or
• location of danger which must be kept on port proceeding upstream
• Green
• letters and odd numbers
• Green Light: Fl 4s, or Q 1 s
• topmark: single green cylinder

Question 3

Starboard Hand

Answer 3

• lateral: marks R side of channel, or
• danger which must be kept on Starboard in upstream
• red
• letters and even numbers
• red light: Fl 4s, Q 1 s
• if unlighted: pointed conical top
• topmark: single red cone pointed up

Question 4

Port Bifurcation

Answer 4

• lateral: marks where channel divides viewed upstream
• preferred or main channel is STARBOARD (RH) side
• Green: one broad red horizontal band
• lettered
• Green light: composite group Fl(2+1)6s or Fl(2+1)10s
• unlighted: top of buoy is flat
• topmark: single green cylinder

Question 5

Lateral Buoys

Answer 5

Indicate side on which they may be safely passed
- 5 types:
Port hand
Starboard hand
Port Bifurcation
Starboard Bifurcation
Fairway

Question 6

Starboard Bifurcation

Answer 6

• lateral: where channel divides in upstream
• preferred/main channel on PORT (LH) side of buoy
• red with one green band
• letters
• red light: composite group Fl(2+1)6s or Fl(2+1)10s
• unlighted: top of buoy conical
• topmark: single red cone pointing up

Question 7

Isolated Danger

Answer 7

• moored on or above isolated danger with navigable water all around it
• Black with red band
• letters
• white light: group flashing Fl(2)5s or Fl(2)10s
• unlighted: spar shaped (others can be used)
• topmark: 2 black spheres, one atop other

Question 8

Cardinal Buoys

Answer 8

• indicate location of safest/deepest water by reference to cardinal points of the compass
• 4: North, South, East, West
• white retroreflective material
• unlighted: spar shaped (or others)

Question 9

North Cardinal

Answer 9

• safe water to N
• top half is black & lower half yellow
• letters
• white light: (Q)1s or (VQ)5s
• topmark: 2 black cones on each other (pointing up)

Question 10

East Cardinal

Answer 10

• safewater to east
• Black with yellow band
• letters
• white light: group quick flashing three Q(3)10s or group very quick flashing three VQ(3)5s
• topmark: cones pointed up and down (one above other base to base)

Question 11

South Cardinal

Answer 11

• safewater to South
• yellow top half & black lower half
• letters
• white light: group quick flashing six plus long flash (Q(6)+LFl)15s or group very quick flashing six plus long flash (VQ(6)+LFl)10s
• topmark: 2 black cones on each other pointing down

Question 12

West Cardinal

Answer 12

• safewater to West
• yellow with back band
• letters
• white light: group quick flashing nine Q(9)15s or group very quick flashing nine VQ(9)10s
• topmark: 2 black cones point to point

Question 13

Special Buoys

Answer 13

• used to convey info
• not primarily used for nav
• shapes have no significance
• some privately owned
• all 💛 yellow lights: flashing (Fl)4s (exception: ODAS group flashing Fl(5)20s)

Question 14

Anchorage

Answer 14

• marks perimeter of designated anchorage area
• colored yellow with black anchor symbol on at least 2 opposite sides
• letters
• topmark: single yellow “X” shape

Question 15

Cautionary

Answer 15

• marks area to warn of dangers (firing ranges, racing courses, seaplane bases, underwater structures, aquaculture, area of no safe through-channel, traffic separations)
• yellow
• letters
• topmark: single yellow “X” shape

Question 16

Control

Answer 16

• boating is restricted
• white with orange circle inside 2 orange bands
• Black symbol inside circle indicates restriction
• letters

Question 17

Diving

Answer 17

• marks scuba or diving in progress
• white, red flag no less than 50 cm square with white diagonal stripe
• letters

Question 18

Hazard

Answer 18

• marks random hazards (rocks, shoals/turbulent waters) located outside main channel
• white with orange diamond inside 2 orange bands
• hazard info symbols or words inside diamond or bands
• letters

Question 19

Information

Answer 19

• info of interest
• white with orange square between 2 orange bands
• black words or symbols about info inside square
• letters

Question 20

Keep-out

Answer 20

• marks area boats prohibited 🚫
• white with orange diamond with orange cross inside 2 orange bands
• letters

Question 21

Mooring

Answer 21

• used for mooring or securing a vessel, seaplane, etc.
• white and orange: orange top 1/3
• letters

Question 22

Swimming

Answer 22

• marks perimeter of swimming area
• white
• letters

Question 23

ODAS

Answer 23

• marks scientific, meteorological or oceanographic station
• shall not exhibit a shape that conflicts with any nav mark
• yellow
• letters
• yellow light: Fl(5)20s
• topmark: single yellow “X” shape

Question 24

Daybeacon