INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTHOUSE AUTHORITIES (IALA)

MARITIME BUOYAGE SYSTEM ‘A’

PORT HAND EITHER HAND STARBOARD HAND
WHEN INBOUND WHEN INBOUND
CHANNEL [or ‘LATERAL’] MARKS

TOP MARKS TOP MARKS

CAN OPTIONAL CONICAL [also known as ‘NUN’] OPTIONAL

NORMAL
SPHERE

NORMAL = GREEN EXCEPTIONAL = BLACK

PILLAR
TOP MARKS PILLAR
REQUIRED TOP MARKS
IF PRACTICAL REQUIRED

ALTERNATE
IF PRACTICAL

PILLAR

PILLAR
SPAR

SPAR

SPAR

SPAR
LIGHTS MUST BE RED (ANY PATTERN) IF FITTED LIGHTS WHITE (LONG FL.) IF FITTED LIGHTS MUST BE GREEN (ANY PATTERN) IF FITTED

LIGHTS TOP MARKS

DANGER MARKS
REQUIRED
IF PRACTICAL
NORTH REQUIRED
IF PRACTICAL
LIGHT PATTERN
TOP MARKS
REQUIRED
IF PRACTICAL
Q or VQ (continuous)
N

ST
O

EA
R
TH

TH
W

R
ES

O
PILLAR

N
T

SPAR

PILLAR

SPAR
WEST EAST
LIGHTS WHITE (GRP. FL. 2) IF FITTED

POINT
OF SPECIAL MARKS
PILLAR

PILLAR

INTEREST
SPAR

SPAR

TOP MARKS
Mark spoil areas, REQUIRED
special anchorages, IF PRACTICAL
moorings, etc.

LIGHT PATTERN SOUTH LIGHT PATTERN

DRUM

PILLAR

SPAR

Q(9) or VQ(9) GROUPS Q(3) or VQ(3) GROUPS

LIGHTS YELLOW WHEN FITTED

(UNIQUE PATTERN VS. WHITE)
T

SO
ES
W

U
PILLAR

TH
TH

SPAR

EA

SPHERE
U

CAN

NUN
SO

LIGHT PATTERN
ST

Q(6) or VQ(6) + L GROUPS

CARDINAL MARKS THESE SHAPES INDICATE HAND
(SAME AS FOR CHANNEL MARKS)