Buoyage

Buoyage is 5 PER questions with at most 2 mistakes. Spain is in IALA Region A: red to port when entering harbour.

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How to read a mark

By day read colour, shape and topmark. At night read light colour and rhythm. Lateral marks depend on the direction of entry from seaward: in Region A (Europe —including Spain—, Africa, Oceania and Asia except Japan, South Korea and the Philippines) red cans stay to port and green cones to starboard when entering; in Region B (the Americas, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines) colours are reversed (green to port and red to starboard) while shapes stay the same.

Cardinals name the safe side: pass on the side they name. Their flashes follow a clock: east 3, south 6, west 9, north continuous.

Activities

• Buoyage pilotageSteer to harbour by reading the marks. Get it wrong and you run aground.

Questions in this unit

• If lit, what is the regulation colour of a safe water mark’s light?
• At night you see a mark with a yellow light flashing in groups of 5 every 20 seconds. Which mark is it?
• Approaching Cangas do Morrazo harbour at night, abeam of Punta Borneira, we see ahead a red Fl(2+1) light. If our port lies in the secondary channel, how do we reach Cangas?
• Isolated danger mark lights are grouped in:
• Safe water marks may:
• What does a cardinal mark indicate?
• On safe water marks, mark the CORRECT answer.
• Entering Puerto Sherry, we see ahead a red can buoy. What is the right way to manoeuvre?
• The light of isolated danger marks, if lit:
• A cardinal mark can NOT be used to:
• The shape of safe water marks is:
• The shape of special marks is:
• Which marks have safe water all round but mark no danger?
• Isolated danger and safe water marks use white lights:
• Cardinal marks are used to indicate:
• If we see a duplicated isolated danger mark, what does it mean?
• For Region A lateral mark lights, which synchronisation modes exist?
• What is the topmark of starboard lateral marks?
• On special marks, mark the CORRECT statement.
• Between which true bearings, taken from the point being marked, is the south quadrant of the cardinal system bounded?
• If entering a harbour we see a red can mark:
• Special marks indicate:
• To show that the deepest water in the area lies in the quadrant giving the mark its name, we use…
• Arriving at a harbour from seaward, the lights we must leave to port are
• How will an isolated danger be marked?
• Entering an approach channel from seaward in Region A, we must leave:
• A mark showing yellow and black colours is:
• The topmark of a starboard lateral mark, if fitted:
• Starboard lateral marks in Region A:
• A cardinal mark shows:
• Safe water marks are coloured:
• Entering a channel in Region A, we see a green spar beacon. We leave it on…
• What is the topmark of cardinal marks?
• If we find a black-over-yellow buoy with two black cones, one above the other, both pointing up, we pass…
• At a channel fork, the mark used to show the main channel is:
• To mark a spoil ground we use:
• The topmark of a safe water mark is coloured:
• In Region A, lateral marks may be shaped:
• Entering port we see a red buoy with a broad green horizontal band. To follow the main channel, we leave the buoy on our:
• A mark is black with a broad yellow horizontal band. Its topmark will be:
• A mark with a topmark of two black spheres one above the other:
• A mark is green with a broad red horizontal band. What is its light?
• At night, isolated danger marks show a white light flashing in:
• Entering port, what colour are the port and starboard lateral marks respectively?
• What light does an EAST cardinal mark show?
• The light of safe water marks, if any, is:
• Which topmark belongs to an isolated danger mark?
• What topmark does a Region A fork lateral mark showing the main channel to port have?
• Approaching Barbate marina, we see a white quick-flashing light in groups of three, VQ(3) every 5 seconds. In which quadrant is the deepest water?
• On special marks, mark the CORRECT option.
• What is the light rhythm of an East cardinal mark?
• If a safe water mark had a topmark, it would be:
• Isolated danger marks are:
• Which statement about isolated danger marks IS CORRECT?
• Port lateral marks: what shape and colour are they?
• A lateral mark showing the main channel to port will be:
• Under way, the nearest mark to starboard is a green conical buoy. This means the boat is:
• What colour and shape is a Region A port lateral mark?
• If we see a black mark with a broad yellow band, topped by two black cones base to base, what does it tell us?
• The main purpose of special marks is:
• What flash group and colour is an isolated danger mark’s light?
• Safe water marks may be used:
• What is a cardinal mark’s most important daytime feature?
• The topmark of isolated danger marks will be:
• Special marks:
• Approaching Panxón port at night, we see a white light Q(6) plus a long flash every 15 seconds. In which quadrant is the deepest water?
• On safe water marks:
• In IALA Region A, port lateral marks may be shaped:
• What colour are safe water marks?
• In region A, entering harbour from seaward, green lateral marks must be kept to:
• What shape must special marks have:
• Which mark has as its topmark two black cones, one above the other, pointing upwards?
• The topmark of a south cardinal consists of:
• A continuous quick-flashing white light belongs to a mark:
• Entering harbour we see a green pillar mark with a broad red horizontal band in the middle. To take the main channel we must:
• The rhythm of an isolated danger mark's white light may be:
• A quick-flashing white light in groups of 9 flashes every 15 seconds is:
• What colour is a special mark?
• A mark shows a white light for two seconds, dark for two seconds, and so on without a break. It is:
• The topmark of port lateral marks in Spain is:
• The marks that show a red light are:
• What is the topmark of a preferred-channel mark with the main channel to starboard?
• A mark has a topmark of two black spheres one above the other. It is:
• In a buoyed channel, green marks should be left:
• A mark whose topmark is two black cones, both points up, tells us to pass to the … of it.
• Leaving port, we should leave lateral marks of which colour to starboard?
• Entering port we see ahead a mark with a green light in groups of 2+1 flashes. What does it show?
• What light rhythm does an isolated danger mark have?
• A south cardinal mark’s topmark is:
• A preferred-channel-to-port lateral mark shows a light of colour:
• The light of a port lateral mark will be:
• The light of a mark whose upper half is yellow and lower half black will be:
• What is the characteristic topmark of a north cardinal mark?
• If we sight a yellow mark with a broad black horizontal band topped by two black cones point to point, what does it tell us?
• Under way, we see ahead a white light in groups of two flashes Fl(2). Which mark is it?
• Safe water marks:
• At night we sight a white light in groups of 2 flashes after a dark period. We are facing a mark of:
• Preparing to enter Ceuta, the chart shows a mark with a green single-flash light. Which lateral mark is it?
• Arriving at night at Cangas marina, we see ahead a red light in groups of 2+1 flashes. The chart shows we must take the secondary channel. In general:
• Regarding special marks, their topmark, if any, would be:
• Entering Santurtzi, we see ahead a green spar mark with a broad red band. The port lies on the secondary channel. How do we proceed?
• If a special mark marks a submarine cable or pipeline, what topmark would it carry, if any?
• When a cardinal mark’s light shows 3 very quick or quick flashes then darkness, it is a cardinal:
• The topmark of the east cardinal mark is two black cones:
• A black cardinal mark with a broad yellow horizontal band is:
• Safe water marks may be used to show:
• Entering port we see a green conical buoy with a red band in the middle. What does it show?
• The topmark on safe water marks:
• Which marks show a white light in groups of two flashes?
• The isolated danger mark:
• On special marks, mark the CORRECT statement.
• Safe water marks:
• Approaching Isla de Ons, we see a buoyage mark topped by two black cones point to point. What is it telling us?
• Isolated danger marks, if lit, show:
• Where is navigable water relative to an isolated danger mark?
• Safe water marks include:
• Safe water marks are used to show:
• Two cones base to base as the topmark of a buoy painted with a yellow band between two black bands means:
• A yellow pillar buoy with a broad black horizontal band, topped by two black cones point to point, shows:
• Coming into port from sea, the lights we leave to starboard are:
• What is the topmark of a spar buoy marking an isolated danger?
• We sight a buoy giving 3 white quick flashes every 10 seconds. The deepest water lies:
• Sailing by day we see ahead a mark with red and black bands. What should we do?
• Leaving port at night, we see a green light in groups of two flashes. It is:
• In the cardinal system, the marks are:
• If, leaving port, we see a red can buoy, we leave it to:
• A north cardinal mark is:
• At night we sight a beacon giving groups of two white flashes. We may assume it is:
• A black buoy with one or more broad red horizontal bands means:
• A mark painted with yellow and black horizontal bands and topped by two cones pointing down is:
• The isolated danger mark:
• A safe water mark’s topmark is:
• If we find a yellow buoy with an X-shaped topmark, we are looking at:
• Isolated danger marks carry as topmark:
• What colour are special marks?
• Which kind of mark is painted yellow and black?
• A spar with red and white vertical stripes is a mark of:
• What colour is the light of the west cardinal mark?
• Which marks are painted yellow only?
• A cardinal mark shows that the deepest water in its area lies:
• Isolated danger marks are:
• The colour of marks showing areas reserved for leisure is:
• Isolated danger marks are placed:
• On an isolated danger mark, the rhythm and colour of the light are:
• The colour of an isolated danger mark is:
• A green conical mark with a red band shows:
• A pillar with white and red vertical stripes is a mark:
• To show the port and starboard sides of the route to follow in a channel, we use...
• The light rhythm on a west cardinal mark is:
• A cardinal mark with two cones placed base to base, and a yellow band between two black bands, shows that navigable water relative to it lies to the:
• The light on a preferred channel to starboard mark is coloured:
• If we sight a mark whose topmark is two cones, one above the other, base to base, we pass it in the quadrant:
• The topmark (if any) of a special mark is:
• A white light on for three seconds and off for three, and so on, belongs to a mark:
• A south cardinal mark shows:
• Sailing on an easterly course we see ahead a continuous quick-flashing white light:
• An east cardinal mark:
• A buoy shows at night a group of 2 red flashes every 5 seconds; it is:
• A mark whose upper half is black and lower half yellow is a:
• A red spar with a broad green horizontal band in the middle is:
• Entering harbour by a marked channel, we must leave on our starboard side the lateral marks coloured:
• A black mark with red horizontal bands is:
• A red pillar with a broad green horizontal band is a mark:
• Port lateral marks in Region A are:
• A buoy whose topmark is a yellow X-shaped cross is a mark:
• To define the axes of channels, the marks used are:
• A red cylinder is the topmark of a mark:
• Leaving port along a buoyed channel:
• Cardinal marks:
• A mark whose light is a group of two white flashes every fifteen seconds is:
• The topmark (if any) of a port lateral mark is:
• Entering port along a buoyed channel we see a mark showing a group of 2 + 1 green flashes. If we want to stay in the main channel, we leave this mark on our:
• We sight a pillar buoy with a cone, apex upwards, on top (the glare of the sun stops us seeing the colour). It is:
• A mark whose light is white with the rhythm of Morse “A” is:
• When the lateral marks at the sides of a channel are numbered, the numbers increase:
• A mark showing a white light with one long flash every 10 seconds is a mark:
• The colour of an EAST cardinal mark is:
• The purpose of cardinal marks is to show the navigator:
• Main channel marks showing a bifurcation show a light with the rhythm:
• What is the rhythm of a South cardinal mark’s light?:
• Special marks:
• Sailing at night abeam of Isla de Toralla, we see 3 green flashes on our starboard side. What type of mark would it be?
• If when sailing a red buoy is seen to starboard:
• Safe Water Marks:
• Choose the statement that does NOT apply to Special Marks:
• The topmarks of Cardinal marks will always be:
• Cardinal Marks will always be painted:
• A Special Mark will never be used to show or mark:
• Special marks:
• Regarding cardinal marks, choose the INCORRECT answer:
• The shape of cardinal mark buoys will be:
• The “conventional direction of buoyage” used with lateral marks may be that which
• Going up a channel, Lateral Marks will be numbered or lettered:
• Making landfall at night, we sight abeam to port a green light with groups of (2+1) flashes and abeam to starboard a continuous quick green light. Where is the boat sailing?
• What do special marks indicate under IALA rules?
• In the IALA system, what do red lateral marks indicate?
• Special marks are coloured:
• Special marks:
• Sailing at night near Sálvora Island, we see ahead a green light in groups of 2 flashes, so we must be seeing a mark:
• Preparing the approach to Vigo, we see on the chart a mark with a red light in groups of 4 flashes. Which lateral mark is it?
• Facing an isolated danger mark, the navigator must:
• Special marks:
• In Region A, a modified lateral mark with horizontal red or green bands shows:
• The numbering of lateral marks, above all in confined waterways, should:
• If we sight an isolated danger mark, what is the best action?
• A special mark is one:
• The nature of special marks:
• Special marks:
• A buoy with two black spheres as topmark indicates:
• A mark shows a white light with equal periods of light and darkness. It is:
• To show that you must pass west of a danger, a mark is coloured:
• At a channel fork, if we see a modified lateral mark with a green Fl(2+1) light, where is the main channel?
• In which quadrant does the east cardinal mark show navigable water, and what is its light rhythm?
• What topmark (if any) does a green mark with a broad red horizontal band have?
• Which type of mark is a black spar with a broad red horizontal band?
• A spherical mark with red and white vertical stripes is:
• A safe water mark may be used:
• Port hand lateral marks. What shape can they have?
• To show isolated dangers of limited size, entirely surrounded by navigable water, we use...
• A black spar mark with a red central band shows:
• A white quick-flashing light in groups of 3 flashes every 5 seconds belongs to:
• A Special Mark will be coloured:
• In region A, where a channel divides, a red lateral mark with a broad green horizontal band shows:
• An isolated danger mark...
• What is the topmark of a west cardinal mark?
• Port hand lateral mark...
• Special mark buoys are used to show:
• The topmarks that show an isolated danger are:
• What is the topmark of a spar buoy showing safe water?
• A yellow light on a buoy means:
• With a beacon showing TWO black cones, one above the other with apexes up, as its topmark, where is the navigable water?