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INTRODUCTION
DEFINITION
The expression `Marine Aids to Navigation'' encompasses fixed or floating, visible and
audible objects or devices, sited either ashore or at sea, which mark the route to be
followed, or a sandbank or other navigational hazard. They are intended to warn the
mariner of dangers or obstructions to navigation or to assist him to identify his position, e.g.
by bearing observation or to check the vessel's course.

CATEGORIES AND FUNCTIONS

Visual marine aids to navigation include landmarks, light-vessels, buoys, and fog signals.

Landmarks are fixed structures erected along the coast, such as : lighthouses, minor
lights, daybeacons, chimneys, churches, water towers, etc. They may be lighted or
unlighted.
They mainly serve to indicate the coastline, especially in making a landfall when
approaching from seaward, and to determine or check the vessel's position.
Light-vessels (or lightships) are heavily-anchored vessels fitted with powerful lights and
are specially designed to serve as beacons. Since a few years they have become
obsolete.
They are used to warn mariners of a particularly dangerous hazard, such as a shoal or
wreck, in positions where it has not been practicable to build a lighthouse; for example,
near the approach to a harbour or in areas of high traffic density. They may also indicate
the entrance of the fairway to a harbour. Light-vessels are always fitted with a fog signal.
Light-vessels are in process of being replaced by light towers (offshore light stations) or
by large automatic navigational buoys called 'lanbys'.
Buoys are heavily-anchored floating objects of specific shape and colour. They may or
may not carry topmarks and lights, or be fitted with a fog signal.

They are used to indicate navigational hazards such as shoals, wrecks, obstructions etc.,
or to mark well-defined channels, fairways or special areas. Buoys are usually placed
where it would be impossible or too expensive to erect fixed aids.
Light-vessels, landmarks, and buoys are commonly called sea and landmarks. Sometimes
they are also called 'Buoyage and Coast Markings'.

In French, Dutch and other languages, the term buoyage includes landmarks and
buoys, while the English term buoyage refers only to buoys.
The term 'Aids to Navigation' in general, includes fixed and floating objects, electronic
aids to navigation such as radiobeacons, Loran, Decca, Omega, Satellite navigation
AIS, etc.
Only the coast markings and IALA buoyage systems which can be described as fixed
and floating objects or devices will be dealt with in this book.
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SPECIFICATIONS

Landmarks and seamarks are identified by their shape, height, material of construction,
colour, name, or number and according to the case, by their lights and/or, fog signals. The
name or number facilitates identification or location of the mark on charts and other nautical
publications.
Each light also has its own specifications such as number, colour, characteristics; period,
elevation, range or visibility (intensity of light source) and sectors.
These specifications are, as far as possible, distinct from those of other lights in the
vicinity, so that navigational lights are distinguishable from each other or from background
lights or other shore lights.
Fog signals are recognized by the nature of their sound, such as nautophone, diaphone,
siren, bell, whistle, etc. and by the number and period of the sounded signals.
Not all navigational aids should be relied upon to the same degree.
Some lights are classed as major lights, others as minor lights. Major lights are usually
lights of high intensity fitted on lighthouses, light-vessels, light towers or lanbys which are
manned, or monitored automatically.
Major lights used for the purpose of making landfalls are usually called primary
seacoast lights. Those sited at harbour entrances and in other important locations are
called secondary lights.
Minor lights are usually automatic unmanned lights of low or moderate intensity, placed in
harbours, along rivers, channels, fairways, or in areas with little traffic.
Buoys are floating objects which may come adrift due to a collision or a heavy storm.
Major lights may therefore be relied upon to a greater extent than minor lights and buoys.

WHERE TO FIND THIS INFORMATION

1. On nautical charts, although on smaller scale charts many details are omitted.
2. In specialised hydrographic publications, such as lists of lights, pilot books, sailing
directions, nautical almanacs, guides etc. produced independently by many nations.