Chapter 7 Canadian Aids to Navigation System The aids to navigation
are devices or systems
Chapter 7
Canadian Aids to Navigation System
The aids to navigation are devices or systems. The purpose is 3-fold: to help the operator determine position, to indicate the preferred route and to warn of dangers and obstruction. Aids to navigation are always external to the pleasure craft.
Buoys are always found on the water; they are a floating aid to navigation. Not all buoys have lights and/or topmarks. Buoys must be used along with nautical charts.
Lateral Buoys
Cardinal Buoys
Special Buoys
Command Signs
Day Beacons
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Lateral Buoys
Lateral buoys mark whether the port or starboard side of a channel should be followed or the location of a danger. The traditional 3R rule states: Red Right Returning, which means when returning to harbour or going upstream keep red marks on the right hand side; when leaving harbour or going
downstream, the red marks are kept on the left side. This is why buoys must be
read in conjunction with charts; a nautical chart will show you the flow of the river/lake so you know when your craft is travelling upstream or downstream.
If the lateral buoy is not lighted, they are either painted green with flat tops and given an odd number or they are painted red with pointed tops and given an even number. It is important to remember the shapes because it is sometimes difficult to identify the colour from a distance or when the lighting is poor. Green buoys are referred to as "port-hand buoys" because they are kept to port when going upstream or into harbour. Red buoys are referred to as "starboard-hand buoys" because they are kept to starboard when going upstream or into harbour. A lighted buoy, referred to as structural or pillar, may take many shapes, as illustrated in the diagram. A red buoy may have a small pointed structure on it, called a topmark and a red light that is either flashing (F1)4s or quick flashing (Q)1s. A green buoy's topmark would be a flat-topped cylinder and would have a green light flashing the same as the red's.
PORT (green can)
Keep this buoy on your port (left) side
when proceeding in the upstream direction.
BIFURCATION (red and green bands)
You may pass this buoy on either side when
proceeding in the upstream direction,
but the main
or preferred channel is indicated by the colour of the
topmost band.
For
example: Keep this buoy on your starboard (right) side.
PORT (green pillar)
Keep this buoy on your port (left) side when
proceeding in the upstream
direction.
PORT (green spar)
Keep this buoy on your port (left) side when
proceeding in the upstream
direction.
STARBOARD (red spar)
Keep this buoy on your starboard (right) side when
proceeding in the upstream
direction.
STARBOARD (red conical)
Keep this buoy on your starboard (right) side when
proceeding in the upstream
direction.
STARBOARD (red pillar)
Keep this buoy on your starboard (right) side when
proceeding in the upstream
direction.
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Cardinal Buoys
Cardinal Buoys: the word "cardinal" refers to the cardinal points of the compass --
north, south, east and west. A cardinal buoy marks the route to the safest and deepest water. Therefore, a south cardinal buoy indicates that the safest water is found south of it.
Cardinal buoys are lettered, never numbered, in white retro reflective material. Cardinal buoys are flat-topped and painted with yellow and black horizontal bands; the pattern of colours on the buoy determine whether it is a north cardinal buoy, a south cardinal buoy, an east cardinal buoy or a west cardinal buoy. If there is a topmark, it consists of two black cones; the direction that the cones point helps determine which kind of cardinal buoy it is. See the diagram below.
If there is a light, it is always white. To remember the flash sequence, refer to the clock above. The east cardinal buoy is a group of three quick flashing beacons of light in 10 seconds or a group of three very quick flashing beacons of light in 5 seconds. The south cardinal buoy is a group of six quick flashing beacons of light plus a long flash of light in 15 seconds or a group of six very quick
flashing beacons of light plus a long flash of light in 10 seconds. The west cardinal buoy is a group of nine quick flashing beacons of light in 15 seconds or a group of nine very quick flashing beacons of light in 10 seconds. The north cardinal buoy is a constant one second beacon of light or a very quick 0.5 second beacon of light. If the cardinal buy does not carry a light, it is normally spar shaped.
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Other Waterway Markers indicate buoys, lights and day beacons. All of these markers are placed on the waterways for the safety of all waterway users. It is against the law to tie a craft to them or otherwise alter or obscure them from the public view.
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Special Buoys
The special buoys listed below may have a yellow light that flashes one beacon of yellow light in 4 seconds.
Description
* Shapes have no
significance *
Yellow lights - Flash characters (if equipped)
* May be lettered - No
numbers *
Retroreflective material of the same colour
* Cautionary, Scientific and Anchorage
buoys as required markings. White buoys will
may display a yellow "X"
topmark display yellow material.
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Cautionary
A cautionary buoy marks
dangers such as firing ranges,
underwater pipelines, race courses,
seaplane bases and areas where no through channel
exists. |
Anchorage
An Anchorage Buoy marks
the
perimeter
of designated anchorage
areas.
Consult the chart for
depths
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Mooring
A Mooring Buoy is used for mooring
or securing vessels; be aware that a vessel may be secured to such a buoy
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| Information
An information buoy displays information such as locality, marina, campsite, etc.
Be guided by the information illustrated with in the orange
square. |
Hazard
A hazard buoy marks random hazards such as shoals and rocks. Information
concerning the hazard is illustrated
within the orange diamond.
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Control
A control buoy indicates speed limits, wash restrictions, etc. Obey the restrictions
illustrated within the orange circle.
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Command Signs
These posted command signs or warning signs include:
- no wake zones
- speed limit zone signs
- low head dam hazard signs
- power line hazard signs
- pipeline hazard signs
- speed limit zones
- no anchorage signs
- speed limit zone signs
- no anchorage signs
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Day Beacons
Range day beacons are beacons that consist of two or more fixed navigation marks situated some distance apart and a different elevations. They provide a recommended track for navigators when both tracks are in a line.
The port hand day beacons may have an odd number made of white reflecting material. the starboard hand day beacon may have an even number made of white reflecting material.
Standard Daybeacons
Port Hand
(center black or green)
When proceeding upstream, a port hand daybeacon must be kept on the vessel's port
(left) side. |
Junction
(Preferred channel to right)
Marks a point where the channel
divides and may be passed on either side. If the
preferred channel is desired the daybeacon should be kept on the vessel's port
(left) side. |
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Junction
(Preferred channel to left)
Marks a point where the channel divides and may be passed on either
side. If the
preferred channel is
desired, the daybeacon should be kept
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Starboard hand
When proceeding upstream,
must be kept on the vessel's starboard (right) side.
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