- The four quadrants (North, East, South and West) are bounded by the true
bearings NW-NE, NE-SE, SE-SW, SW-NW, taken from the point of interest. A
cardinal mark is named after the quadrant in which it is placed. The name of a
cardinal mark indicates that it should be passed to the named side of the
mark. It may be used:
- to indicate that the deepest water in that area is on the named side of
the mark to indicate the safe side on which to pass a danger to draw attention
to a feature in a channel such as a bend, a junction, a bifurcation, or the
end of a shoal
| |
NORTH CARDINAL MARK |
EAST CARDINAL MARK |
SOUTH
CARDINAL MARK |
WEST
CARDINAL MARK |
|
Topmark: |
2 black
cones, one above the other, points upward. |
2 black
cones, one above the other, base to base. |
2 black
cones, one above the other, points downward. |
2 black
cones, one above the other, point to point. |
|
Colour : |
Black above
yellow. |
Black with a
single broad horizontal yellow band. |
Yellow above
black. |
Yellow with
a single broad horizontal black band. |
|
Shape : |
Pillar or
spar. |
Pillar or
spar. |
Pillar or
spar. |
Pillar or spar. |
|
Light (when fitted) : |
White,
V.Qk.FI. or Qk.FI. |
White,
V.Qk.FI.(3) every 5s or Qk.FI.(3) every 10s |
White,
V.Qk.FI.(6) + long flash every 10s or Qk.Fl.f6) + long flash every 15s |
White,
V.Qk.FI.(9) every 10s or Qk.Fl.f9) every 15s |
ISOLATED DANGER MARK is a mark over
an isolated danger which has navigable water all around it.
|
Topmark |
2 black
spheres, one above the other. |
 |
|
Colour |
Black with
one or more broad horizontal red bands. |
|
Shape |
Pillar or spar preferred. |
|
Light (when fitted) |
White,
Gp.Fl.t2). |
SAFE
WATER MARKS indicate that there is navigable water all
round the mark; these include centre line marks and mid-channel marks. Such a
mark may also be used as an alternative to a cardinal or a lateral mark to
indicate a landfall.
|
Colour : |
Red and
white vertical stripes. |
 |
|
Shape : |
Spherical,
pillar with spherical topmark or spar. |
|
Topmark (if any) : |
Single red
sphere. |
|
Light (when fitted) : |
White,
Isophase, occulting, one long flash every 10s or Morse A. |
SPECIAL MARKS
Marks not primarily intended to assist navigation but which indicate a
special area or feature referred to in appropriate nautical documents, e.g.
Ocean Data Acquisition Systems (ODAS) marks; Traffic Separation marks where
use of conventional channel marking may cause confusion; Spoil Ground marks;
Military Exercise Zone marks; Cable or pipe line marks; Recreation Zone marks.
|
Colour : |
Yellow |
|
Shape : |
Optional but not conflicting with navigational marks (e.g. a yellow can
buoy will not be used in a 'starboard' situation in region A). |
|
Topmark (if any) : |
Single yellow 'X' shape. |
|
Light (when fitted) : |
Yellow |
NEW
DANGERS
- Used to describe newly discovered hazards not yet shown on charts,
including naturally occurring obstructions such as sandbanks or rocks or
man-made dangers such as wrecks.
- New Dangers will be marked in accordance with these rules. In the case of
an especially grave danger, one of the marks may be duplicated.
- Any lighted mark used for this purpose shall have an appropriate cardinal
or lateral V.Qk.FI. or Qk.FI. light character.
- A duplicate mark will be identical to its partner in all respects. A
duplicate mark may carry a racon, coded Morse D. The duplicate mark will be
removed when the new danger has been sufficiently promulgated.
