1	Navigation Systems
2	Objectives 1. Have a basic knowledge of the definitions for various Aids to Navigation 2. Understand why aids are established 3. Understand the specific purpose of various Aids to Navigation 4. Understand the ICW, Western Rivers, Lateral Marking system and the Conventional Direction of Buoyage 5. Become familiar with the flash characteristics used on Aids to Navigation
3	Definitions Aid to Navigation: Any device external to a vessel intended to assist a navigator to determine their position, safe course, or to warn of dangers or obstructions to navigation. Buoy: An unmanned, floating aid to navigation moored to the seabed. They may be lighted or unlighted.
4	Definitions Beacon: Any fixed aid to navigation located on shore or marine sites. Lighted beacons are called lights, unlighted beacons are called daybeacons. Range: Pairs of beacons arranged so that when they are lined up they indicate the center of the channel.
5	Definitions Daymark: The daytime identifier of an aid to navigation presenting one of several colors, shapes, numerals or letters. 1. Square, triangle, rectangle, diamond or octagon 2. Top marks on buoys, and the buoys shape
6	Definitions IALA: International Association of Lighthouse Authorities. Divides world into 2 regions Region “A”: Most of the World Region “B”: North & South America, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines
7	Definitions Region “A” Green Even Triangles Red Odd Squares Region “B” Red Even Triangles Green Odd Squares
8	Introduction Navigation Systems U.S. Marking system Intracoastal Waterway system Western River system
9	U. S. Marking System Lateral System: Employs a simple arrangement of colors, shapes, numbers and light characteristics to show which side an aid should be passed on when proceeding in the Conventional Direction of Buoyage. 3-R’s Red Right Returning from sea
10	U. S. Marking System Starboard Lateral Marks Color: Red Shape: Triangles and Nuns Character: Even Numbers Light: Red Port Lateral Marks Color: Green Shape: Squares and Cans Character: Odd Numbers Light: Green
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12	U. S. Marking System Preferred Channel Marks Purpose: Marks junctions and bifurcation's Description: Color: Red & Green horizontally banded (uppermost band is preferred channel) Shape: Same as preferred channel (uppermost band is preferred channel) Character: dayboard - topmost color for letter buoy - letter (white) Light: Same as uppermost band Characteristic: Gp Fl (2+1) 6s
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14	U. S. Marking System Safe Water Marks Purpose: Indicates there is navigable water all around the mark Description: Color: Red and White vertically striped Shape: Sphere or Buoy with Topmark Character: Letters (white) (ex. “GB” Galveston Bay) Light: White Characteristic: Mo(A)
15	U. S. Marking System Isolated Danger Marks Purpose: Marks isolated dangers or obstructions that can be passed on all sides Description: Color: Black and Red horizontally banded Shape: Buoy with Top mark Character: Letters (white) Light: White Characteristic: Gp Fl (2) 5s
16	U. S. Marking System Purpose: Not intended to assist safe navigation but to indicate special areas marked on charts (anchorage, traffic separation, data gathering) Description: Color: Yellow Shape: Various Character: Black letters Light: Yellow Characteristic: Fixed, Flashing (except Mo A, 2+1, Qk)
17	U. S. Marking System Information and Regulatory Marks Purpose: Alert the mariner to such things as submerged pipes, no wake zones, etc. Description: Color: White; orange band or border Shape: Square or Diamond Character: Letters (black, usually words) Light: White Characteristic: Anything not otherwise reserved
18	U. S. Marking System Wreck Markers Purpose: To alert the mariner to wrecks Description: Color: Appropriate to side of channel Shape: Appropriate to side of channel Character: White Letters “WR”, numbered in sequence with channel (WR12) Light: Same as buoy color Characteristic: Quick Flashing (unless aid is a preferred channel aid)
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20	U. S. Marking System Conventional Direction Purpose: To identify how aids should be passed in areas other than channels. Regions: Atlantic Coast: Southerly Gulf Coast: North and Westerly Pacific Coast: Northerly Great Lakes: North and Westerly (Lake Michigan: Southerly)
21	Conventional Direction of Buoyage
22	Intracoastal Waterway System Runs from Manasquan NJ to Brownsville TX Differs only from U.S. marking system in that ICW aids show distinctive identifying symbols Conventional Direction of Buoyage is the same as the East and Gulf Coasts Identifying Marks Starboard Marks: Yellow Triangle Port Marks: Yellow Square Non-lateral ICW Mark: 2” Yellow Strip on bottom
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24	Western River System The Mississippi River and it’s tributaries Western Rivers differ from the U.S. Marking system as follows: 1. The conventional direction of buoyage is from the mouth to head of navigation. Local terminology describes aids as Right or Left descending bank 2. Aids are not numbered or lettered 3. Safe water & Iso. danger marks are not used
25	Western River System Left Descending Bank Marks: Color: Red Shape: Triangle Light: Red Characteristic: Group- flashing Characteristics
26	Western River System Right Descending Bank Marks: Color: Green Shape: Square Light: Green Characteristic: Flashing Characteristics
27	Western River System Crossing Marks: Show where traffic is to move from one side of the bank to the other. Upbound takes the points, Downbound takes the bends.
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29	Western River System Crossing Marks: Color: Red or Green Shape: Diamond Light: White(Changed to Red or Green when damaged or worn) Characteristic: Right descending bank - single flash - Green or White Left descending bank - group flashing two - Red or White
30	Western River System Crossing Marks: By June 1999 solid-colored boards should be changed to Non-lateral Red & Green.
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32	Review Primary Navigation Marking systems U.S., Intracoastal Waterway, Western River US Marking system (Lateral) Port, Starboard, Preferred Channel, Safe water, Isolated Danger, Special Purpose, Information and Regulatory, and Wreck Markers Intracoastal Waterway Marks Starboard Mark- Yellow Triangle Port Mark- Yellow Square Non-Lateral - 2”strip
33	Review Differences between Western Rivers and U.S. Marking systems Aids are not numbered or lettered Safe Water marks and Isolated Danger marks are not used Difference between Intracoastal and U.S. Marking systems ICW identifiers are used
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35	ATON Review #1
36	ANTON Review #1 Answers 1 Preferred Channel Lighted Buoy ( When going up channel pass this buoy on starboard to enter preferred channel. ) 2 Preferred Channel Daymark ( When going up channel pass this daymark on port to enter preferred channel. ) 3 Safe Water Sphere 4 Safe Water Lighted Buoy 5 Information and Regulatory Marks
37	ANTON Review #2
38	ANTON Review #2 Answers 1 Isolated Danger Buoy 2 Isolated Danger Daymark 3 Yellow Can Buoy (Special Purpose Aids ) 4 Yellow Nun Buoy (Special Purpose Aids ) 5 Yellow Lighted Buoy (Special Purpose Aids ) 6 Yellow Daymark (Special Purpose Aids )
39	ANTON Review #3
40	ANTON Review #3 Answers 1 Wreck Marker Buoy 2 Crossing Mark 3 Red Daymark and ICW Marker 4 Red Daymark and ICW Marker 5 Green Daymark IALA-A (Non-USA) buoyage System (Note the Even Number) 6 Green Daymark IALA-B (USA System)