MODULE 6 - BOATsmart!

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Aids to navigation “Aids to Navigation” are the system of buoys and markers that assist a boater in determining his or her position and identifying potential dangers and waterway obstructions. External to pleasure craft, aids to Navigation can be used to plot position and course on nautical charts and other nautical publications. Aids to navigation also assist the pleasure craft operator in choosing the most preferred and safest route. It is prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada to interfere with any aid to navigation. Operators should never tie up to a marker, buoy or any other aid to navigation. In addition, no person may wilfully alter, remove or conceal a signal, buoy or other type of navigation marker. Two main systems of navigation are used on Canadian Waterways: The Lateral System and the Cardinal System. All aids to navigation have identifying marks such as colours, lights and numbers. What is a buoy? A buoy is a floating marker or signal which is affixed to the bottom of the waterway or mounted on a feature (such as an island) of the waterway. Buoys serve four main functions: - Provide Warnings - Provide Information - Mark underwater hazards - Provide a system for navigation Floating buoys There are three styles of floating buoys used on Canadian waterways: 1) Light Buoys: Light buoys are typically the largest of all floating buoys and have a light fixture affixed to the top of the buoy. 2) Spar Buoys: Spar buoys are also called “pillars” and are common on smaller waterways. They have a cylinder shape and are typically smaller than light buoys. 3) Cans: Cans are wider than spar buoys and are typically used as lateral ateral system and bifurcation buoys. All floating buoys are affixed xed to the bottom of the waterway using a structure tructure of underwater cables and anchors. chors. Systems of buoys in Canada There are several systems of buoys and markers used on Canadian waterways to aid in navigation: 1) The Lateral System is a system of red and green buoys used to mark preferred safe routes. The Lateral System also includes fairway buoys, isolated danger buoys and day beacons. 2) The Cardinal System consists of yellow and black buoys that indicate safe routes by the cardinal compass points. 3) A Range is a series of two buoys that, when aligned align along a sight path, indicate the safest route for navigation. 4) Special Specia Purpose Buoys may be yellow or white in colour colou and are used to mark dangers such as (but not limited to) racecourses, underwater structures, struc pipelines, etc. AIDS TO NAVIGATION Module 6 I 101
THE LATERAL SYSTEM 102 I Module 6 The lateral system The lateral system is used to mark the most preferred and safest routes. Consisting of red and green buoys, this system marks the course of deepest water and indicates on which side of the buoy boaters should safely pass. In the Lateral System, buoys and beacons indicate the sides of the channel or route relative to a conventional direction of buoyage (usually upstream). They also mark junctions (a point where two channels meet) or bifurcations (the point where a channel divides). They can also mark a place where two tributaries meet. There are two main types of Lateral System buoys which are most familiar to boaters: - Green Port-hand buoys - Red Starboard-hand buoys In total, there are six types of lateral buoys including: port hand buoys, starboard hand buoys, port bifurcation buoys, starboard bifurcation buoys, fairway buoys, and isolated danger buoys. The Lateral System is standardized for international waterways. Port-hand buoys Port-hand buoys are green in colour and mark the left side of a channel or the location of a specific danger. Port-hand buoys must be kept on the left-hand side of your boat when heading upstream. Port-hand buoys are identified by letter(s) and odddigit number(s), and in standard configuration, are flat on the top. In some instances, a port-hand buoy may be fitted with a top-mark consisting of a single green cylinder. Port-hand buoys may also be fitted with a green light that flashes in either a: - F1 pattern (single flashes in 4 second intervals); or - Q pattern (quick single flashes one second apart) Starboard-hand buoys Starboard-hand buoys are red in colour and mark the right side of a channel or the location of a specific danger. Starboard-hand buoys must be kept on the right-hand side of your boat when heading upstream. Starboard-hand buoys are identified by letter(s) and even-digit number(s) and in standard configuration, are pointed on the top. If they do not have a red light they will be conical on the top. Starboard-hand buoys may also be fitted with a red light that flashes in either a: - F1 pattern (single flashes in 4 second intervals); or - Q pattern (quick single flashes one second apart)
Page 1: MODULE 6 AIDS TO NAVIGATION MARKERS
Page 5 and 6: DAY BEACONS 104 I Module 6 DAY BEAC
Page 7 and 8: THE CARDINAL SYSTEM 106 I Module 6
Page 9 and 10: APPENDIX C - CHART OF BUOYS AND FLA
Page 11 and 12: 110 I Module 6 MODULE 6 SUMMARY In

MODULE 6 - BOATsmart!

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?