2.3 International Association of Lighthouse Authorities system of buoyage

October 27, 2020

International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Buoyage System – Introduction

Up till approximately 128 years ago there was no uniform system of buoyage among maritime nations. This was an unacceptable situation and in 1889 a number of countries got together and decided to do something about it. They agreed to mark the port side of channels with black can buoys […]
October 27, 2020

Buoyage regions

The boundaries of the two buoyage regions A and B in which the colours of the lateral marks and their lights are reversed, are shown in the following diagram:
October 27, 2020

Description of the system

Application and purpose. The system applies to all fixed and floating marks, other than lighthouses, sectors of lights, leading lights and marks, lanbys, certain large light floats and light vessels. Its purpose is to indicate: The sides and centrelines of navigable channels; Navigable channels under fixed bridges; Natural dangers and […]
October 27, 2020

Lateral marks

Purpose. Lateral marks are used for well defined channels in conjunction with the general direction of buoyage. They indicate the port and starboard hand sides of the route to be followed. Direction of buoyage. The conventional direction of buoyage is defined in one of two ways: Local direction of buoyage. […]