Name: Estorque, Rhyme P.

BSMT-1 PILOT
COLREGS

NAVIGATIONAL AIDS
The phrase "aids to navigation" refers to a variety of objects that serve as
"street" signs on the water, including buoys, day beacons, lights, lightships,
radio beacons, fog signals, markings, and more.
The canals we go boating on do not have road signs that indicate us our
location, the route or distance to a destination, or of hazards along the way, in
contrast to the roads and highways that we drive on. As an alternative,
mariners might employ AIDS TO NAVIGATION (or ATONs), which are all those
man-made items, to identify their position or a safe course.
A continuous chain of charted marks is provided by these aids, which
also help seafarers make a safe landfall, identify isolated threats, allow pilots to
follow channels, and facilitate accurate piloting in coastal waters. The U.S. The
Aids to Navigation System is designed to be used alongside nautical charts,
which offer useful details about hazards, water depths, and other elements that
are not included in atlases or road maps.

TYPES OF NAVIGATIONAL MARKERS

CARDINAL MARKS

As per IALA Buoyage system, the four quadrants (North, East, South and West)
are bounded by the true bearings NW-NE, NE-SE, SE-SW, and SW-NW, taken
from the point of interest. A cardinal mark is named after the quadrant in
which it is placed. The name of a Cardinal mark indicates that it should be
passed to the named side of the mark. The Cardinal marks in Region A and
Region B, and their use, are the same.

-North Cardinal Buoy

A north cardinal buoy is located so that the safest water exists to the north of
it.
Top-marks pointing upward:
black band above yellow band

-South Cardinal Buoy

A south cardinal buoy is located so that the safest water exists to the south of
it.
Top-marks pointing downward.
black band below yellow band
-East Cardinal Buoy
An east cardinal buoy is located so that the safest water exists to the east of it.
Top-marks pointing away from each other:
Black bands above and below a yellow band

-West Cardinal Buoy

A west cardinal buoy is located so that the safest water exists to the west of it.
Top-marks pointing towards each other:
Black band with yellow bands above and below.

LATERAL BUOYS
Lateral marks are navigational aids used to indicate the location of
navigational hazards and to indicate the sides of channels, fairways, and
preferred routes in waterways. They are used to help mariners determine their
position and safely navigate waterways.
There are two types of lateral marks: port (red) marks and starboard
(green) marks. Port marks indicate the left side of a channel when proceeding
in the upstream direction, while starboard marks indicate the right side of a
channel. These marks are used to define the edges of channels, fairways, or
preferred routes, and help mariners stay within the safe navigational area.
Lateral marks are typically color-coded and marked with distinctive
symbols or letters to indicate their meaning, which can be found in nautical
charts and publications. By following these marks, mariners can safely
navigate waterways and avoid navigational hazards.

ISOLATED DANGER BUOYS

An Isolated Danger mark is placed on, or moored on or above, an isolated
danger which has navigable water all around it.

Because the extent of the danger and the safe passing distance cannot be
specified for all circumstances in which this mark may be used, the mariner
must consult charts and nautical publications for guidance.

Typically used to mark hazards such as an underwater shoal or rock

SAFE WATER BUOYS

Safe Water marks serve to indicate that there is navigable water all
around the mark and do not mark a danger. Safe water marking can be used
for fairway, mid-channel, centre line or landfall marks. This mark may also be
used to indicate channel entrance, port or estuary approach, or landfall. The
light rhythm may also be used to indicate best point of passage under bridges.
By following safe water marks, mariners can safely navigate waterways
and avoid navigational hazards. It's important to note that safe water marks do
not indicate the direction of safe water or the best route, so mariners must still
exercise caution and rely on other navigational aids, such as buoys and
beacons, to safely navigate waterways.

EMERGENCY WRECK BUOYS

Emergency wreck buoys are floating markers used to indicate the location of
sunken ships or other underwater hazards to navigation, particularly for
marine vessels. They are deployed in an emergency situation to warn ships of
the presence of a wreck or other hazardous obstacle, so as to avoid collisions
and potential damage to ships and lives at sea.

Emergency wreck buoys are equipped with lights, reflectors, or other signaling
devices that can be seen from a distance to warn ships of the presence of the
wreck. They are used as a temporary measure, often in conjunction with other
navigation aids and warnings, until permanent markers can be installed.

SPECIAL
Special marks are used to denote mariners’ areas with special features. They
don't contribute significantly to aiding seamen in safe navigation. Mariners are
the only ones they point out spots of particular importance. By looking at the
charts or Sailing Directions, you can learn more about these locations'
characteristics.
Special markings may be used to identify military training grounds,
recreation areas, anchorage area boundaries, cables, pipelines, dead ends,
mooring areas, protected areas, marine farms or aquaculture, oil wells, and
ODAS (Ocean Data Acquisition System) devices that collect data on wind,
pressure, salinity, and temperature.
These markings are clearly distinguishable from other buoys thanks to their
yellow color and cross-shaped topmark.