Buoys, Beacons

IALA Maritime Buoyage System (continued)

Where in force, the IALA System applies to all fixed and floating marks except lighthouses, sector lights, leading lights and leading marks, light-vessels and lanbys. The standard buoy shapes are cylindrical (can), conical, spherical, pillar and spar. Variations may occur; for example, light-floats. (See Buoy Shapes and Types for examples.) In the illustrations below, only the standard buoy shapes are used. In the case of fixed beacons (lit or unlit), only the shape of the topmark is of navigational significance.
In the illustrations below, all marks are the same in Regions A and B.
IALA Buoyage Regions A and B
Cardinal Marks indicating navigable water to the named side of the marks.   Isolated Danger Marks stationed over dangers with navigable water around them.     Body: black with red horizontal band(s).     Topmark: 2 black spheres.   Unlit Marks   Lighted Marks   Safe Water Marks such as mid-channel and landfall marks.     Body: red and white vertical stripes.     Topmark (if any): red sphere.   Unlit Marks   Lighted Marks   Special Marks not primarily to assist navigation, but to indicate special features.     Body (shape optional): yellow. ‡     Topmark (if any): yellow.   ‡ In special cases, yellow can be in conjunction with another color.   Unlit Marks   Lighted Marks