The IALA maritime beacon system** (from the English International Association of Lighthouse Authorities) or AISM (Asociación Internacional de **Marítima Signalización) is an international standard issued to standardize the characteristics of the buoyage that delimits navigable channels and their adjacent waters in order to unify criteria, according to the requirements of the international organization IALA, created in 1957.
There are two systems throughout the world, the A system applied in Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia, excluding Japan, Korea and the Philippines. The B system applied in South, Central and North America in addition to the three Asian countries mentioned above, as indicated by the map in the figure.
The buoy system was established to delimit navigable channels, signal obstacles to navigation and serve as help to the navigator.
It includes six types of different signals that can be used in combination.
Both buoy system A and B are analogous. They differ only in the location of the lateral marks and buoys while the rest of the signals are common to both.
In the A system, a vessel entering from the sea to port using a buoyed channel must leave the green buoys and marks on the starboard side (on its right).
In the B system it is the other way around.
Side signs
The figure illustrates the use of lateral marks established by the IALA system as used in the waters of America, Japan, Korea and the Philippines.
The side marks may or may not be luminous, but when they are, their flashes will be the same color as the mark (green or red).
The marks are numbered in ascending order as you move towards inland waters.
Below are the three types of recommended lateral marks and their location with respect to a vessel entering from the high seas depending on whether it is in zone A or B respectively.
The IALA maritime beacon system** (from the English International Association of Lighthouse Authorities) or AISM (Asociación Internacional de **Marítima Signalización) is an international standard issued to standardize the characteristics of the buoyage that delimits navigable channels and their adjacent waters in order to unify criteria, according to the requirements of the international organization IALA, created in 1957.
There are two systems throughout the world, the A system applied in Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia, excluding Japan, Korea and the Philippines. The B system applied in South, Central and North America in addition to the three Asian countries mentioned above, as indicated by the map in the figure.
The buoy system was established to delimit navigable channels, signal obstacles to navigation and serve as help to the navigator.
It includes six types of different signals that can be used in combination.
Both buoy system A and B are analogous. They differ only in the location of the lateral marks and buoys while the rest of the signals are common to both.
In the A system, a vessel entering from the sea to port using a buoyed channel must leave the green buoys and marks on the starboard side (on its right).
In the B system it is the other way around.
Side signs
The figure illustrates the use of lateral marks established by the IALA system as used in the waters of America, Japan, Korea and the Philippines.
The side marks may or may not be luminous, but when they are, their flashes will be the same color as the mark (green or red).
The marks are numbered in ascending order as you move towards inland waters.
Below are the three types of recommended lateral marks and their location with respect to a vessel entering from the high seas depending on whether it is in zone A or B respectively.
In both cases the geometric figure or stop mark that crowns the buoys - beacons is:
When a navigable channel forks, a buoy called "Preferred Channel" is placed to indicate which is the recommended or main route and which is the secondary one.
Like the lateral signals, these buoys differ depending on the A or B region.
When we say preferred channel to starboard (region B) it must be understood that when reaching the fork this buoy must be left on the port side. that is, the main channel continues to turn or fall to the right or starboard.
In region A the other way around.
When these buoys are luminous, their light will be green, with a composite group characteristic. Example (2+1).
Its stop mark is a cone.
When we say preferred channel to port (region B) it must be understood that when reaching the fork this buoy must be left on the starboard side (see example). That is, the main channel continues to bend or fall to the left or port.
In region A the other way around.
When these buoys are luminous, their light will be red, with a composite group characteristic. Example (2+1).
Its stop mark is a cylinder.
Below, all brands are common to both geographical regions without distinction.
Isolated danger signs
They are the marks, buoys or beacons that are placed on an obstacle to navigation that has navigable waters throughout its surroundings.
It is a buoy (zone) that must be avoided but can be crossed by any side.
Its colors are black and red, its top brand two spheres in a vertical line.
Its luminous characteristic: Group of two white flashes.
When the extent of the danger requires more than one buoy, a combination of several cardinal buoys is used as will be explained later.
Signs of new dangers
It is used to mark recently discovered hazards that are not yet indicated on the corresponding nautical charts. They include natural obstacles, such as sandbanks or rocks, and also sinking hulls.
It is important to note that the anchoring of this buoy is carried out for a period of 24 to 72 hours and does not appear on any nautical chart. The corresponding Naval Hydrography service will issue the corresponding nautical radio warning.
Safe water signs
Also known as half-channel buoys, they are used to demarcate deep water in a vast area in its proximity. These buoys left or crossed at a safe distance guarantee the navigator is safe. They are used in natural channels whose width is very wide, as landfall buoys in a narrow channel, and in deep estuaries to delimit the path to follow to cross it safely.
They are painted with red and white vertical stripes and have a stop mark consisting of a sphere.
Its light is white, its luminous characteristic or rhythm can be:.
Special signs
They are signs used to demarcate an area of particular interest or for buoys for tasks related to navigation.
These buoys are yellow, their top mark is an "X", their light signal when present is yellow and the rhythm is any that cannot be confused with the previous ones.
or with the cardinal buoys.
Cardinal signs
These marks are made up of a group of four different types of buoys, which indicate a cardinal point of the compass rose.
They are placed to the north, east, south or west of a hazard to warn of the presence of a threat to navigation.
They are signs to indicate the greatest depth in the area, or the safest side to avoid a danger, or to draw attention to a special configuration of a navigable channel.
When the extent of a danger, for example a shoal or shallow depth, requires more than one buoy, such as those used to mark isolated dangers, then it is preferred to demarcate this area with cardinal buoys that indicate to the navigator how such difficulty should be overcome.
It should be understood that a cardinal north buoy should be left south of the vessel or sail further north of this mark, the same reasoning will apply for the other cardinal marks.
The attached diagram shows its stop markings, colors and luminous characteristics (white light).
As the west cardinal point is usually represented with the letter W for the English word West, it is useful to remember as an aide-memoire that the west cardinal buoy has a stop mark that resembles a wine glass or Wine. The rest of the marks are very easy to interpret.
In both cases the geometric figure or stop mark that crowns the buoys - beacons is:
When a navigable channel forks, a buoy called "Preferred Channel" is placed to indicate which is the recommended or main route and which is the secondary one.
Like the lateral signals, these buoys differ depending on the A or B region.
When we say preferred channel to starboard (region B) it must be understood that when reaching the fork this buoy must be left on the port side. that is, the main channel continues to turn or fall to the right or starboard.
In region A the other way around.
When these buoys are luminous, their light will be green, with a composite group characteristic. Example (2+1).
Its stop mark is a cone.
When we say preferred channel to port (region B) it must be understood that when reaching the fork this buoy must be left on the starboard side (see example). That is, the main channel continues to bend or fall to the left or port.
In region A the other way around.
When these buoys are luminous, their light will be red, with a composite group characteristic. Example (2+1).
Its stop mark is a cylinder.
Below, all brands are common to both geographical regions without distinction.
Isolated danger signs
They are the marks, buoys or beacons that are placed on an obstacle to navigation that has navigable waters throughout its surroundings.
It is a buoy (zone) that must be avoided but can be crossed by any side.
Its colors are black and red, its top brand two spheres in a vertical line.
Its luminous characteristic: Group of two white flashes.
When the extent of the danger requires more than one buoy, a combination of several cardinal buoys is used as will be explained later.
Signs of new dangers
It is used to mark recently discovered hazards that are not yet indicated on the corresponding nautical charts. They include natural obstacles, such as sandbanks or rocks, and also sinking hulls.
It is important to note that the anchoring of this buoy is carried out for a period of 24 to 72 hours and does not appear on any nautical chart. The corresponding Naval Hydrography service will issue the corresponding nautical radio warning.
Safe water signs
Also known as half-channel buoys, they are used to demarcate deep water in a vast area in its proximity. These buoys left or crossed at a safe distance guarantee the navigator is safe. They are used in natural channels whose width is very wide, as landfall buoys in a narrow channel, and in deep estuaries to delimit the path to follow to cross it safely.
They are painted with red and white vertical stripes and have a stop mark consisting of a sphere.
Its light is white, its luminous characteristic or rhythm can be:.
Special signs
They are signs used to demarcate an area of particular interest or for buoys for tasks related to navigation.
These buoys are yellow, their top mark is an "X", their light signal when present is yellow and the rhythm is any that cannot be confused with the previous ones.
or with the cardinal buoys.
Cardinal signs
These marks are made up of a group of four different types of buoys, which indicate a cardinal point of the compass rose.
They are placed to the north, east, south or west of a hazard to warn of the presence of a threat to navigation.
They are signs to indicate the greatest depth in the area, or the safest side to avoid a danger, or to draw attention to a special configuration of a navigable channel.
When the extent of a danger, for example a shoal or shallow depth, requires more than one buoy, such as those used to mark isolated dangers, then it is preferred to demarcate this area with cardinal buoys that indicate to the navigator how such difficulty should be overcome.
It should be understood that a cardinal north buoy should be left south of the vessel or sail further north of this mark, the same reasoning will apply for the other cardinal marks.
The attached diagram shows its stop markings, colors and luminous characteristics (white light).
As the west cardinal point is usually represented with the letter W for the English word West, it is useful to remember as an aide-memoire that the west cardinal buoy has a stop mark that resembles a wine glass or Wine. The rest of the marks are very easy to interpret.