For the maritime industry, buoys and beacons are an important aid to navigation. They help ships find their way and provide vital information for their journey. It is important for crew members to understand the meaning of buoys. Their main function is to show a safe way or route to travel through the water. As such, they help keep boats safe on the water, in waterways, and near the coast.
Interestingly, different types of buoys tell boats what to do. Crew members who do not understand what the buoys mean may take the wrong route. Next, we will cover these different types of buoys. Eventually, you will be able to understand buoys, their markings, and what they mean.
Boating Buoys
So, what are buoys? In order to keep boats and ships safe, a device called a buoy is used. Their purpose is to show boats a safe path or course. Crews use these buoys as navigational aids to steer their vessels in the right direction. In addition, buoys are usually made of plastic and can stay in the water for a long time.
For the sea, different waters will have different depths. Some waters are more dangerous for ships than others. If a ship enters these places, it is more likely to have an accident. Therefore, we need to avoid these situations. In such cases, these buoys will show the way to a safe area. Ships can use these routes to travel.
So, how are these buoys fixed in the water? This is an interesting question. The buoys have ropes and chains on them, which are then secured to the bottom of the river or the sea floor by means of chains. When there is wind or waves, these chains hold the buoy in place. Thus these buoys will stay in place.
Apart from the buoys that guide the ships for safe navigation, there are also buoys that can be used to anchor the ships. Such buoys that can anchor a ship are called mooring buoys. These buoys are marked in different ways, and the crew must be able to understand them. Next, let’s dive into these different types of buoys.
Lateral Buoys System
Port Hand Buoy
The port hand buoy is located on the left side of the channel when the vessel is moving against the current. It usually marks the left side of the channel as dangerous or marks the area of danger. Therefore, a vessel must travel on the right side of the port hand buoy when traveling against the current.
The top of the leeward buoy is flat and usually green. In addition, it may have a green light. If the port hand has a number on it, it is an odd number. It is usually presented as a column, tank, or wing beam.
Starboard Hand Buoy
The starboard hand buoy is located on the right side of the channel when the vessel is moving against the current. It shows the right side of the channel or where the danger is. Therefore, the starboard buoy must be kept on the right side of the vessel when it is moving upstream.
The starboard buoy is red in color and tapered at the top. If the buoy has a light on it, it is also red. If there are numbers on the buoy, they are even.
Bifurcation Buoy
A bifurcation buoy marks the location where a waterway splits into two separate waterways. If you are going against the current, you can pass this mark on the port or starboard side. The buoy has red and green bands. Depending on the color, the top strip shows which is the main channel or the most used channel.
When a passage splits into two, it is marked using a fork sign. One of the channels will be larger, deeper, and safer than the other. Therefore that channel is the main channel. The function of the bifurcation buoy is to show which channel is the main channel.
StarboardJunction Day Beacon
The starboard junction day beacon is shaped like a diamond with a red triangle inside. It shows where two routes meet and you can choose either side. For those choosing the preferred channel, stay on the starboard side when going against the current.
Port Junction Day Beacon
The port junction day beacon has a red diamond with a green square inside. It shows the junction of two shipping lanes and a vessel may choose to pass on either side. If the preferred channel is chosen by the crew, then the vessel should be kept on the port side as it moves against the current.
It is important to note that day beacons are not buoys. They are usually anchored to a post, tree, rock, bridge structure, or something else. They are like lateral connection buoys that indicate which side is safe to pass, depending on whether you are going upstream or downstream.
Hand Day Beacon
A port lateral buoy is similar to a port day beacon. It shows the left side of the course you want to use. When a boat is traveling against the current, it must stay to the left.
The hand day beacon looks like a black or green square with white as the background and a green reflective border. This type of day beacon has no light, so it can only be seen in daylight.
Specialized Buoys
Isolated Danger Buoy
The Isolated danger buoy is used to mark isolated dangerous areas on the water, such as shipwrecks. In addition, it can be used to show a single danger point in navigable waters. The Isolated danger buoy is usually fixed directly above or on top of the danger point. In addition, it is used to mark the position of rocks, shoals, or shipwrecks.
Anchorage Buoy
The Anchorage buoy is used to mark the edge of a place where a vessel is allowed to anchor. It marks the circumference of the anchorage area. To find out how deep the water is, check the charts. the Anchorage buoy is usually yellow in color with a black anchor mark. In addition, it has a yellow light that flashes every four seconds.
Cautionary Buoy
The Cautionary buoy is usually yellow in color and tells the crew to be careful around certain areas. Such as shooting ranges, race tracks, seaplane bases, underwater structures, or areas where there is no safe passage or traffic diversion.
Mooring Buoy
Mooring buoys mark places where boats can be moored or secured. These buoys are usually white with an orange stripe. Zhonghaihang Shipping Supply can provide customers with rugged steel mooring buoys.
Information Buoy
An information buoy is a buoy that displays useful information to mariners in the form of text or pictures. It is usually white in color with two orange square symbols on either side. There are also two orange horizontal bands above and below the square symbols.
Hazard Buoy
The hazard buoy marks oddities that may pose a hazard to a vessel’s navigation, such as reefs and shoals. This buoy is white in color with an orange diamond and two orange horizontal bands.
Keep Out Buoy
Keep out buoys are markers of waterways that are not open to ships. These buoys are white in color. In addition, there is an orange diamond and an orange cross on either side and in the middle of the two orange horizontal lines.
Diving Flags
Diving flags mark the places where people can do diving activities. It is a red flag with a white diagonal line running from the top of the flagpole to the bottom of the flagpole.
If diving operations are conducted from a yacht, the white and blue flag of the International Code of Signals must be flown. This flag reads, “I have a diver in the water, please keep a safe distance and slow down”.
Swimming Buoy
Swimming buoys mark areas where people can swim. This buoy is an elongated buoy used to mark the edge of a swimming area. The Swimming buoy is white in color and it may not have been plotted on a chart. If it has an indicator light, the light is yellow and flashes every four seconds.
Cardinal Buoys
Cardinal buoys indicate a hazard using the four cardinal points. For example, the north cardinal buoy signifies that navigable waters are located to the north of the buoy. It’s yellow and black, with a different flashing white light on top.
The placement of the strips indicates which of the navigation markers buoys you will encounter. Such as a north cardinal buoy, a south cardinal buoy, a west cardinal buoy, or an east cardinal buoy.
North Cardinal Buoy
- A north cardinal buoy is placed so that safe water is to the north of the buoy.
- It is colored black and yellow.
- The top is painted black, suggesting that this is a north buoy. The lower half is painted yellow.
- If this buoy does not have a light, it will be spar-shaped.
South Cardinal Buoy
- A south cardinal buoy is placed so that the safe water is to the south of the buoy.
- It is colored black and yellow.
- The black is at the bottom, indicating that it is heading south. The upper section is painted yellow.
East Cardinal Buoy
- The east cardinal buoy is situated so that the safe water is to the east of the buoy.
- It is colored black and yellow.
- The black is placed at the top and bottom, with the yellow piece in the middle to signify that it is an east buoy.
West Cardinal Buoy
- The west cardinal buoy is positioned so that the safe water is to the west of the buoy.
- It is colored black and yellow.
- The black is placed in the middle to signify that this is a west buoy. The yellow is on top and bottom.
Summary
In conclusion, crews need to be aware of the various types of buoys and their specific meanings. This is essential for safe and effective navigation on the water. Whether it is marking a safe passage, indicating a hazard, or providing a positional reference. The different types of buoys each serve a unique purpose.
By familiarizing yourself with these markers, you can ensure a smoother, safer ride on the water. Whether you are an experienced sailor or a casual boater. Respecting and understanding the role of buoys is key to responsible navigation.
