Observe and identify
Foundation level, about 2 min. IALA worldwide marks.
The situation
A navigation mark lies ahead. Inspect its body colour, paint pattern and topmark with the binoculars. Interpret it using the stated buoyage region.
Which mark is this, and what does it tell you?
- Safe-water mark
- Port-hand mark · Region A
- Starboard-hand mark · Region A
Answers and explanations
Lookout: Vertical red and white stripes and one red ball. White lights may be isophase, occulting, long flashing or Morse A.
The sound answer
Safe-water mark
Red and white vertical stripes with a red sphere. White isophase, occulting, long-flashing every ten seconds, or Morse A. Indicates navigable water around the mark, commonly at a fairway or landfall.
Why the other options fall short
Port-hand mark · Region A
Red can-shaped lateral mark. In the conventional direction of buoyage, leave it to port. In the opposite direction, leave it to starboard. Read the charted buoyage direction rather than assuming every passage is inward. Here the observed cue identifies safe-water mark. Red and white vertical stripes with a red sphere. White isophase, occulting, long-flashing every ten seconds, or Morse A. Indicates navigable water around the mark, commonly at a fairway or landfall.
Starboard-hand mark · Region A
Green conical lateral mark. In the conventional direction of buoyage, leave it to starboard; travelling against that direction reverses the side of your vessel on which you leave it. Here the observed cue identifies safe-water mark. Red and white vertical stripes with a red sphere. White isophase, occulting, long-flashing every ten seconds, or Morse A. Indicates navigable water around the mark, commonly at a fairway or landfall.
Safe water marks
Red and white vertical stripes with a red sphere. White isophase, occulting, long-flashing every ten seconds, or Morse A. Indicates navigable water around the mark, commonly at a fairway or landfall.