BEACONS & BUOYS

Navigation beacons and buoys are essential for safe boating, and understanding their meaning is crucial. A good basic rule to remember is that lights on boats are fixed; lights on beacons flash. Red beacons mark port (left-hand side) channels when returning from the sea or a river, while green beacons mark starboard (right-hand) channels.

There are many navigation marks and buoys on the water and these are used for marking hazards, indicating the safe limits of channels, and showing the way through channels. They come in many shapes and colours, and each type has a different meaning. Take the time to familiarise yourself with the different beacons and buoys to ensure safe navigation. The ones that many people get confused with are the directional cardinal marks which indicate the deepest water in the area which lies to the named side of the Mark. This convention is necessary even though, for example, a North Mark may have navigable water not only to the north but also east and west of it. The mariner will be safe to the north, but must consult the relevant chart for further guidance.