Nautical buoys

 

The buoy is located in a river or in the sea and generally anchored to the bottom, which can have various purposes, mainly for the orientation of the boats and signaling of submerged objects.

 

Three types of buoys are shown below:

1. SAFE WATER BRANDS:

• ·         It is the only brand that uses vertical stripes.
• ·        Specifies that safe navigable water is around the mark.
• ·         It is the demarcation between open ocean waters and confined waters.
• ·         Indicates the entrance to any port.
• ·         Marks the best waypoint under a fixed bridge
• ·         The safe watermark uses a red ball as the top mark.

•     Colour

Red and white vertical stripes

•     Buoy shape

Pillar, spar, spherical

•     Topmark

Single red dial

2. SPECIAL BRAND

• ·         Are used to denote areas of boaters with special characteristics
• ·         They only point out areas of certain interests for sailors
• ·        Can indicate rubble terrain, military exercise areas, recreation areas, anchorage area boundaries, cables and pipes.

• Colour

Yellow

• Buoy shape

Optional but must not find used for a side or safe water mark

• Topmark

Single yellow cross - shaped 'x'

 3. EMERGENCY RISK SIGNALING BUOY:

• ·         They mark recently discovered uninvestigated hazards that have yet to be announced and declared in nautical charts and publications.

• ·          It is positioned as close to the wreck as possible and, unlike other buoys, is designed to provide a highly visible radio and visual aid for navigation.

• Colour 

Yellow and blue stripes - minimum 4 maximum 8

•     Buoy shape

Pilar or spar

•     Topmark

Yellow vertical cross +