K38 Boater Education Basic Aton Training

United States WaterwaysUnited States Waterways

Introduction to Basic Introduction to Basic Aid to NavigationAid to Navigation

K38 Safe Boating Education Review

Successfully Complete a NASBLA Approved Boating Education Course

Use at Your Own RiskThank you Doug Knutzen

Copyright 2015

Training ObjectivesTraining Objectives

1. Review the definitions for the various Federal and Private AtoNs

2. Understand why AtoNs are established

3. Understand the specific purpose of the various AtoNs

4. Become familiar with the flash characteristics used on AtoNs

K38 Safe Boating Education Review 1

AToN System Definitions

IALA = International Association of Lighthouse Authorities

Divides the world into 2 regions:

Region “A”: Most of the World

Region “B”: North & South America, Japan, Korea, and the

Philippines


AToN System Definitions

The USA uses the IALA-B System

IALA-B = Red, Right, Returning from sea


Region “B”

Red – Even - Triangles and nuns

Green - Odd - Squares and cans

Region “A”

Green – Even - Triangles

Red - Odd – Squares

AtoN System Modes


ATON System Names

US MARKING SYSTEM

INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY SYSTEM

WESTERN RIVER SYSTEM


U. S. Marking SystemU. S. Marking System


Lateral Marks

Define the port and starboard sides of a channel or fairway being followed

Their most frequent use is to mark the sides of channels - may be used individually to mark obstructions located outside of clearly defined channels

Have three criteria that assist the mariner in their quick identification 1. shape

2. color

3. numbering


United States Marking System States Marking System

Lateral System Numbering

• Red aids get even numbers (2, 4, 6)Red aids get even numbers (2, 4, 6)

• Green aids get odd numbers (1, 3, 5)Green aids get odd numbers (1, 3, 5)

• Number (s)start from sea and increase toward shoreNumber (s)start from sea and increase toward shore


Conventional Direction of Buoyage


Conventional Direction of Buoyage

Used for marking the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)

and the off-shore ocean buoys along the coast


Definition of an Aid to Navigation

Any device, external to a vessel,

intended to assist navigators to

determine their position, safe

course, or to warn them of

dangers or obstructions to

navigation


Definition of a Buoy


Definition of a Beacon of a Beacon

Any fixed aid to navigation located on a shore or marine site

Lighted beacons are called LightsLights

Unlighted beacons are called

DaybeaconsDaybeacons or DaymarksDaymarks


Definition of a DaymarkDefinition of a Daymark

The daytime identifier of an aid to navigation presenting one of

several colors, shapes, numerals or letters

Shape may be square, triangle, rectangle, diamond or octagon


Starboard Lateral Marks


Port Lateral Marks


Red Daymark

2

Should have a contrasting red number

2


Green Daymark

3Will have a contrasting GREEN number

3


Nun Buoy

6Should have a white number


Can Buoy

7Should have a white number 7


Preferred Channel MarksPurpose - Marks junctions

Description

Color - Red & Green horizontally banded(top color band is preferred channel)

Shape - Same as preferred channel (uppermost band is preferred channel)

Character - Letter not number

Light - Same color as uppermost band

Characteristic - Gp Fl (2+1) 6s

NN

AK38 Safe Boating Education Review 21

In the main channel, pass on your port side returning from the sea

In the secondary channel, pass on your starboard side

“Red Right Returning”


Safe Water Mark

Purpose

Indicates navigable water all around the mark

DescriptionColor - Red and White vertically striped

Shape - Sphere or Buoy with Topmark

Character - White letter (ex. “NC” North Channel) Light Color - White Characteristic - Mo(A) G

NN


Safe Water Marks

MR

Spherical

Lighted and/or sound


Isolated Danger Mark

D


Special Marks

A

BC

A


Regulatory & Information Marks


Regulatory and Information Marks

Purpose

Alert the mariner to such things as submerged pipes, no wake zones

DescriptionColor - White with orange band or borderShape - Square, Round, or DiamondCharacter - Letters (black, usually words)Light - White

EXCLUSION AREA

RESTRICTEDOPERATIONS

DANGER


Definition of a Range


Range Marks

Purpose

Indicate the center line of a channel when aligned as you traverse the channel

DescriptionColor- They will have colored panels equal in size vertical stripedShape- Rectangle tall side upLight - Green, Red, White and YellowFront range light is lower of the twoRear range light is higher and further from the marinerKGW = Range Green with White Stripe


WRECK MARKS

Purpose

To alert the mariner to wrecks

DescriptionColor - Appropriate to side of channelShape - Appropriate to side of channelCharacter - White letters “WR”, numbered in sequence with channel (WR2)Light - Same as buoy colorCharacteristic - Quick Flashing

(unless aid is a preferred channel aid)

WRWR


DAY MARK

Some markers will have no lateral significance. They are not designed to indicate the channel but rather, to help you determine where you are


Light Structures

Major LighthousesAre named. e.g. Boston LightSymbol is large exclamation pointFixed position

Minor Lights

Not named

Same symbol

Fixed position


Enclosed edifice that houses protects, displays, or supports visual, audible, or radio aids to navigation

–All US Lighthouses are now unmanned (except Boston Light)

Lighthouse


Light Patterns

Fixed (F) – continuous, unblinking light

Flashing (Fl) – light duration shorter than darkness. Frequency not greater than 30 per minute

Quick Flashing (Q) – light duration shorter than darkness. Frequency is at least 60 per minute

Very Quick Flashing (VQ) – light duration shorter than darkness. Frequency is at least 100 per minute

Interrupted Quick Flashing (IQ) – like quick flashing but having a brief, extended darkness period

Isophase (Iso) – Light has equal duration between light and darkness. Period consists of both light and dark interval. Also called Equal Interval (E Int)


Light PatternsGroup Flashing (Gp Fl (x+x)) – Combination of two patterns in one period, i.e. 2 flashes followed by three flashes

Occulting (Occ) – Opposite of flashing – light is on more than it is off

Alternating (AL) – Alternating light changes color. Special purpose light for situations requiring significant caution. Example shows AL.WG, alternating white and green light

Morse (Mo) – Morse code light signal. Example is Morse “U” which is two short flashes followed by one prolonged flash then a period of darkness. Shown as (Mo(U)) on charts

Long Flashing (LFL) – One long flash in a period with lighted period of at least 2 seconds


Timing for Lights

Lights are timed for 60 seconds

See Standard Rhythms Table for time

i.e. Quick, 60 flashes/minFL 4, 15 fl/min and FL 6, 10 fl/minutes


Intracoastal Waterway - ICW

• Begins in New Jersey

• Goes south to the Florida Keys

• Then north along the west coast of Florida

• Then west along the Gulf of Mexico to Brownsville, Texas


Intracoastal Waterway Marks

When aids in a channel are also used to identify an ICW channel

The normal “Red right returning from the sea” rule applies to both



• Yellow Yellow triangles, squares and bands are used to identify ICW marks

• The material used is retro-reflective

• YellowYellow triangles are usually displayed on red lateral marks used on the ICW

• Yellow Yellow squares usually are usually displayed on greengreen lateral marks used on the ICW

• Yellow Yellow bands are displayed on non-lateral ATONS used on the ICW

Retro-reflective


AidsMarking theIntracoastal Waterway


Dual Purpose Marks



Dual Purpose Marks


Date post:	12-Aug-2015
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