October 26, 2020

Distress signals

RULE 37: Distress Signals When a vessel is in distress and requires assistance she shall use or exhibit the signals described in Annexure IV to these regulations. Annexure IV – Distress signals Need of Assistance: The following signals, used or exhibited either together or separately, indicate distress and need of […]
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 […]