ECDIS

Simplified and Traditional “Paper Chart” Symbols

ECDIS can be set to display aids to navigation with either traditional “paper chart” or Fixed Marks
simplified symbols. The two symbol sets are shown below. Some ECDIS color fill the
Paper Chart Simplified Simplified Symbol Name
paper chart buoy shapes, but this is not required by IHO ECDIS portrayal specifica-
tions. Cardinal beacon, north
*
Floating Marks
Cardinal beacon, east
Paper Chart Simplified Simplified Symbol Name *

Cardinal buoy, north * Cardinal beacon, south

*

* Cardinal buoy, east * Cardinal beacon, west

Default symbol for a beacon (used when no defining

* Cardinal buoy, south attributes have been encoded in the ENC)

Isolated danger beacon

* Cardinal buoy, west

Default symbol for buoy (used when no defining attributes Major lateral beacon, red
have been encoded in the ENC)
Major lateral beacon, green
* Isolated danger buoy

Conical lateral buoy, green Minor lateral beacon, green

Conical lateral buoy, red Major safe water beacon

Can shape lateral buoy, green Minor safe water beacon

Can shape lateral buoy, red

Major special purpose beacon

Minor special purpose beacon

Installation buoy and mooring buoy * Paper chart symbols display various buoy or beacon shape symbols in conjunction with the topmark.
Simplified portrayal only displays the topmark.
** Several different paper chart symbols correspond to this simplified symbol.

** Safe water buoy

Day Marks
Special purpose buoy, spherical or barrel shaped, or default
symbol for special purpose buoy Paper Chart Simplified Simplified Symbol Name
Special purpose TSS buoy marking the starboard side of the
traffic lane
Square or rectangular daymark
Special purpose TSS buoy marking the port side of the traffic
lane

Special purpose ice buoy or spar or pillar shaped buoy Triangular daymark, point up

Super-buoy ODAS & LANBY Triangular daymark, point down

Light float
Retro reflector
Light vessel

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 Buoys, Beacons Q
No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Buoys and Beacons

IALA Maritime Buoyage System, which includes Beacons → Q 130

Default symbol for buoy,

Default buoy symbol if no other paper chart
defining attribution is provided Default symbol for buoy,
simplified
Default symbol for a
Default beacon symbol if no beacon, paper chart
other defining attribution is
provided Default symbol for a
beacon, simplified

ECDIS shows the position of buoys and beacons

with a circle at the bottom of paper chart symbols.
1 Position of buoy or beacon
For simplified symbols, the position of the aid
corresponds with the center of the symbol.

Colors of Buoys and Beacon Topmarks Supplementary national symbols: p

Abbreviations for Colors → P

Green and black (symbols filled G

2 black)

Single color other than green R

3 and black

Multiple colors in horizontal RG

4 bands, the color sequence is
from top to bottom
Multiple colors in vertical or RW
5 diagonal stripes, the darker color
is given first

Retroreflecting material Retro reflector

6
Note: Retroreflecting material may be fitted to some unlit marks. Charts do not usually show it. Under IALA Recommendations, black bands will appear blue under a spotlight.

Lighted Marks
Marks with Fog Signals → R

Lighted marks on standard Fl G Fl R Fl R

7 charts R

Lighted marks on multicolored

8 charts

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Q Buoys, Beacons

No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Topmarks and Radar Reflectors

For Application of Topmarks within the IALA System → Q 130 For other topmarks (special purpose buoys and beacons) → Q

Paper chart symbols for topmarks (on the left, below)

are always displayed above a buoy or beacon shape
symbol, as in Q 10 and Q 11.
Simplified symbols (on the right, below) for cardinal
marks, isolated dangers and safe water consist of
only the topmark without the buoy shape symbol.
Simplified symbology for marks with any other type
of topmark will display only the simplified buoy or
beacon shape symbol without a topmark.

2 cones point upward

2 cones point downward

2 cones base to base

2 cones point to point

IALA System buoy topmarks 2 spheres

9 (beacon topmarks shown upright)
Sphere

Cone point up

Cone point down

Cylinder, square, vertical

rectangle
X-shape

Flag or other shape

Board, horizontal
rectangle
Cube point up

Upright cross over a

circle
T-shape

Beacon with topmark, color, radar G Ǝ3Ǝ bn No 2 Beacon in general with

10 No2 reflector and designation Ra Ref topmark, paper chart

Buoy with topmark, color, radar by No 3 Conical buoy with

11 No3 reflector and designation No 3 topmark, paper chart

Note: Radar reflectors on floating marks usually are not charted. ECDIS does not display radar reflectors on fixed or floating aids; this information is obtained by cursor pick.

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 Buoys, Beacons Q
No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Buoys

Shapes of Buoys
Features Common to Buoys and Beacons → Q 1–11

Paper Chart Simplified

Conical buoy, nun buoy, ogival

20 buoy N Conical buoy

21 Can buoy or cylindrical buoy C Can buoy

22 Spherical buoy SP Spherical buoy

23 Pillar buoy P Pillar buoy

24 Spar buoy, spindle buoy S Spar buoy

25 Barrel buoy, tun buoy Barrel buoy

Super-buoy

26 Superbuoy Lanby, super-buoy

Super-buoy odas & lanby

Minor Light Floats

30 Light float as part of IALA System Light float

Light float not part of IALA

31 System
Light float
†

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Q Buoys, Beacons

No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Mooring Buoys Supplementary national symbols: m, n

Oil or Gas Installation Buoy → L

Mooring buoy, can

shape, paper chart

Mooring buoy, barrel

40 Mooring buoys
shape, paper chart

Installation buoy and

mooring buoy, simplified

Fl Y 2s Mooring buoy with light

41 Lighted mooring buoy (example) flare, barrel shape, paper
chart

Trot, mooring buoys with

Trot, mooring buoys with ground
42 tackle and berth numbers Nr 1 ground tackle and berth
numbers

Tel Mooring buoy, can

Tel shape, paper chart
Tel = telegraphic
Mooring buoy with telegraphic or Mooring buoy, barrel
43 telephonic communication shape, paper chart
T
T
Installation buoy and
T = telephonic
mooring buoy, simplified

Numerous (5 buoys)
44 Numerous moorings (example) mooring
Moorings
Small craft mooring area
buoys

Availability of visitor
45 V Visitors’ mooring moorings at marina is
obtained by cursor pick

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 Buoys, Beacons Q
No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Special Purpose Buoys

Note: Shapes of buoys are variable. Lateral or Cardinal buoys may be used in some situations.

Purpose of buoy and other information

is obtained by cursor pick
Firing danger area (Danger
50 Zone) buoy

51 Target

52 Marker Ship Conical buoy with

topmark, paper chart
53 Barge

54 DG Degaussing Range buoy

Special purpose buoy,
spherical or barrel
55 Cable Cable buoy Tel
shaped, or default
symbol for special
56 Spoil ground buoy purpose buoy, simplified

57 Buoy marking outfall

Super-buoy, paper chart

Super-buoy odas &

ODAS buoy (Ocean Data lanby, simplified
58 Acquisition System), data ODAS ODAS
collecting buoy Spherical buoy, paper
chart

Spherical buoy, simpli-

fied

Conical buoy with

topmark, paper chart

Buoy marking wave recorder or

59 current meter Special purpose buoy,
spherical or barrel
shaped, or default
symbol for special
purpose buoy, simplified
Conical buoy, paper
60 Seaplane anchorage buoy AERO chart
Buoy marking traffic separation
61 scheme

Conical buoy with

62 Buoy marking recreation zone
topmark, paper chart

Emergency wreck marking buoy

63 BuY BuY
(EWMB)
Al.Oc.BuY.3s

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Q Buoys, Beacons

No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Seasonal Buoys
(occas)
Buoy privately maintained Y Status as private is obtained by cursor
70 (example) Priv pick
(01.04.–
Y 31.10.)

Status as periodic and period start and

71 Seasonal buoy (example)
stop dates are obtained by cursor pick

Beacons Supplementary national symbols: o

Lighted Beacons → P Features Common to Beacons and Buoys → Q1–11

Default symbol for a

beacon, paper chart
Beacon in general,
Bn Bn Default symbol for a
80 characteristics unknown or chart Bn G R beacon, simplified
scale too small to show
Beacon in general, paper
chart

Beacon with color, no distinctive R RW Beacon color is obtained by cursor

81 topmark Bn pick
G
Beacon color is obtained by cursor
pick

See note at Q 9 for information about topmarks and

ECDIS simplified symbology

Beacon in general with

topmark, paper chart

Major red lateral beacon,

simplified
Beacons with colors and
82 topmarks (examples) Beacon in general with
topmark, paper chart

Cardinal beacon, north,

simplified

Beacon in general with

topmark, paper chart

Isolated danger beacon,

simplified

Beacon in general with

Beacon on submerged rock with topmark, paper chart
83 colors (topmark as appropriate)
Isolated danger beacon,
simplified

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 Buoys, Beacons Q
No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Minor Impermanent Marks Usually in Drying Areas (Lateral Marks of Minor Channels)
Minor Pile → F

† Stake Stake
Minor, stake or pole
90 Stake, pole
beacon, paper chart
† Pole Pole R

Port Hand Starboard Hand Minor, stake or pole

beacon, paper chart
91 Perch, withy
R Minor red lateral beacon,
simplified

Minor green lateral

92 † † Withy
beacon, simplified

Minor Marks, Usually on Land

Landmarks → E

100 Cairn Cairn CAIRN Conspicuous cairn

Square or rectangular
day mark, paper chart

Square or rectangular
day mark, simplified

Triangular day mark,

point up, paper chart
101 Colored or white mark
Triangular day mark,
point up, simplified

Triangular day mark,

point down, paper chart

Triangular day mark,

point down, simplified

Colored topmark (color known

102.1 †
or unknown) with function of a
beacon

Painted boards with function of

102.2 † leading beacons

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Q Buoys, Beacons

No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Beacon Towers
Beacon tower, paper
chart

Beacon tower with

Beacon towers without and with RW topmarks, paper chart
110 topmarks and colors (examples) Bn

Major red lateral beacon,

simplified
Major green lateral
beacon, simplified

Lattice beacon, paper

111 Lattice beacon
chart

Special Purpose Beacons

Leading Lines, Clearing Lines → M

Note: Topmarks and colors shown where scale permits.

Bns in 270 deg

120 Leading beacons line 270° Leading beacons

Bns in 270 deg Beacons marking a

121 Beacons marking a clearing line line 270° clearing line or transit

MARKERS
270 deg

Beacons marking measured MARKERS Beacons marking

122 distance with quoted bearings measured distance
COURSE 270°00'
TRUE 270 deg

Cable landing beacon

123 Cable landing beacon (example) W (example)

124 Refuge beacon

Purpose as refuge or firing danger
area beacon is obtained by cursor pick
125 Firing danger area beacons

126 Notice board Notice board

94
 Buoys, Beacons Q
IALA Maritime Buoyage System
IALA International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities

Where in force, the IALA System applies to all fixed and floating marks except landfall lights, leading lights and marks, sectored lights and major floating lights. The standard buoy shapes are cylindrical (can) ,
conical , spherical , pillar , and spar , but variations may occur, for example: light floats . In the illustrations in Q 130.1, only the standard buoy shapes are used. In the case of fixed beacons (lit
or unlit), only the shape of the topmark is of navigational significance. Lateral marks are generally for well-defined channels.

130 There are two international buoyage regions where lateral marks differ. Region A is primarily comprised of the waters surrounding Greenland, Africa, Europe, Australia and Asia (except for Japan, the Republic of
Korea and the Philippines). Region B is primarily comprised of the waters surrounding North and South America, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines.

ECDIS marks the boundary between IALA regions A and B with this symbol:

180° 150°W 120°W 90°W 60°W 30°W 0° 30°E 60°E 90°E 120°E 150°E 180°

60°N 60°N

30°N 30°N

B B
Japan
Republic of Korea
130.1
Philippines

0° 0°

A
30°S 30°S

60°S 60°S

180° 150°W 120°W 90°W 60°W 30°W 0° 30°E 60°E 90°E 120°E 150°E 180°

95
Q Buoys, Beacons

Port-hand marks are red with Port-hand marks are green with G
cylindrical topmarks (if any). R
G G cylindrical topmarks (if any). R R
If lit, light is red. If lit, light is green.

R G
R G

Fl R RGR Fl G
GRG
R G Fl R
Fl G
R Fl R
INT Fl R G
G
Fl G
G
Fl G Fl G Fl R
R
R G R
Fl(2+1)R
Fl(2+1)G
GRG RGR

Starboard-hand marks are green G R Starboard-hand marks are red If lit, lights on port-hand and starboard-hand marks may
R G
G
with conical topmarks (if any). R with conical topmarks (if any). have any rhythm specified except Fl(2+1), which is used
If lit, light is green. If lit, light is red.
for preferred channel aids.
REGION A REGION B
All preferred channel marks have horizontal bands of
130.1 color; the top color indicates the preferred channel.
R G
G G C R
C N R
P S N
Port-hand marks are red with Port-hand marks are green with
cylindrical topmarks (if any). cylindrical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is red. R R
C If lit, light is green. G
G
C
A preferred channel buoy may be a can or conical shape
S S
to indicate the preferred channel (in addition to the top
RG
R
Fl R
C G
GR
C color band), but may also have a pillar or spar shape.
Fl G
G R
Fl G G Fl R R
G R Fl R
R Fl G Fl G Fl R
G
NOAA Fl R Fl G
RG
GR Fl(2+1)R
Fl(2+1)G
R G G R
C N C N
G R
N N
Starboard-hand marks are green Starboard-hand marks are red
with conical topmarks (if any). with conical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is green. If lit, light is red.

REGION A REGION B

Direction of Buoyage: The direction of buoyage is that taken when approaching a harbor from seaward. Along coasts, the direction is determined by buoyage authorities, normally clockwise around land masses.

Symbols showing direction of buoyage where it is not obvious

INT
IALA Region A IALA Region B
General symbol for direction of buoyage
on multicolored charts on multicolored charts
130.2

ECDIS General symbol for direction of buoyage IALA Region A IALA Region B

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 Buoys, Beacons Q
No. INT ECDIS

Cardinal Marks: indicating navigable water to the named side of the marks. In the illustration below all marks are the same in Regions A and B.

VQ
N

E
W

N
or Q
W E

Topmark: 2 black cones

Black above yellow

Light: White

VQ(9)10s VQ(3)5s
or Q(9)15s or Q(3)10s The same abbreviations are used for lights on
YBY BY BY BYB spar buoys and beacons. S
The periods 5s, 10s, and 15s may not always Paper chart symbology
130.3 Point of be charted.
W interest E
0 5 10 15
Time (seconds) N
Period

YBY YBY YB YB BYB BYB

Yellow with Yellow above black Black with

Cardinal marks are seldom used in U.S. waters
black band yellow band
and do not appear on NOAA charts, except for
charts that also depict Canadian waters.
W E
VQ(6)+LFl.10s
or Q(6)+LFl.15s
SE
SW

YB

S
S
Simplified symbology

97
Q Buoys, Beacons

No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Pillar buoy with 2

Isolated Danger Marks stationed spheres topmark
over dangers with navigable
water around them
BRB BRB

130.4 Body: black with red horizontal BR Spar buoy with 2

band(s) spheres topmark
Fl(2)
BRB BRB Topmark: 2 black spheres
Light: white
Isolated danger buoy,
simplified

Spherical buoy, paper

chart

Safe Water Marks such as

mid-channel and landfall marks Pillar buoy with sphere
RW RW RW
topmark
130.5 Iso or
Body: red and white vertical RW
Oc or stripes
LFl.10s or
RW RW RW Mo(A) Topmark (if any): red sphere Spar buoy with sphere
topmark
Light: white

Safe water buoy,

simplified

Spherical buoy,
paper chart

Special Marks not primarily to

assist navigation but to indicate Can buoy
special features
Y Y Y Y

Body (shape optional): yellow*

130.6 Conical buoy
Y Y Y Y
Topmark (if any): yellow x or
upright cross
Al.Oc.BuY.3s* Fl.Y Lights: yellow, rhythm optional*
BuY* BuY* Spar buoy with x-shape
*in special cases yellow may be topmark
in conjunction with another color

Special purpose buoy,

simplified

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 Buoys, Beacons Q
No. INT Description NOAA NGA Other NGA ECDIS

Supplementary National Symbols

a Bell buoy BELL BELL

b Gong buoy GONG GONG

c Whistle buoy WHIS WHIS

Fairway buoy (red and white

d vertical stripe) RW

Mid-channel buoy (red and white

e vertical stripe) RW

Starboard-hand buoy (entering R

f from seaward - US waters) ƎƎ

Port-hand buoy (entering from G

g seaward - US waters) ″1″ ″1″

Bifurcation/Junction buoys RG GR
h
Isolated danger, Wreck or
Obstruction buoy BR

i Fish trap (area) buoy Y

j Anchorage buoy (marks limits) Y

Triangular shaped beacons R RG

Bn

G GR W B
l Square shaped beacons Bn Bn Bn

Beacon, color unknown Bn

o Lighted beacon
Bn

Security barrier
q Security barrier

r Scientific mooring buoy

s Float (unlighted)

t White and blue buoy

WBuW

99