Types of Marks

The IALA Maritime Buoyage System applies to all fixed and (swimming, floatable, floating) marks, other than lighthouses, sector lights, leading lights and day marks. Most lighted and unlighted (icons, beacons, cones) other than leading marks are included in the system. In general, beacon top marks will have the same shape and color as those used on (buoys, buoys, boyus). The IALA buoyage system provides five types of marks which may be used in any combination: lateral and cardinal marks, (insulated, isolated, isulated) danger and safe water marks and special marks.

Lateral marks indicate port and starboard sides of (navigation, navigable, navigated) channels. Cardinal marks (named "Eastern marks", "Southern marks", "Western marks" and "Northern marks") indicate that the navigable water lies to the named (direction, current, tend) of the mark. Isolated danger marks are erected on or moored directly over dangers of (separated, limited, detached) extend, e.g. an isolated shoal, rock or reef. (Save, Safe, Sake) water marks can indicate, for example, mid channel buoys. Special marks indicate special features e.g. spoil grounds or prohibited (encourages, anchorages, station). Their purpose is determined from the nautical chart or other nautical documents. The special marks will be yellow can, conical or spar buoys. Top mark, if any, will be a yellow cross.

In contrast to a cardinal mark an "isolated danger mark" has navigable water all around its position. The nautical chart may show some information on the extention of the hazard, otherwise keep an appropriate safety distance to the danger mark. Isolated danger marks are colored black with one or more red horizontal bands. Light, when fitted is a white flashing light showing a group of two flashes (Fl.(2) W).

New dangers and wrecks, not yet indicated in the charts, will be marked according to this system. If the danger is especially grave, at least one of the marks is (copied, duplicated, reviewed). The duplicated marks are identical. One of the duplicated marks may be fitted with a racon ("radar beacon") coded "D".

Exercise 15. Decipher (расшифровывать) the following abbreviations of lights, using the example.

Example: Gr. Fl (2) 5 sec. 105 ft. 20 M

A group flashing light, two flashes in a group, the period of flash is 5 seconds, the elevation is 105 feet, the distance of visibility is 20 miles.

Группопроблесковый огонь, два проблеска в группе, период 5 секунд, высота 105 футов и дальность видимости 20 миль.

1. Gr. Occ. (4) WR 5 sec. 110ft. 10 M (U)

2. Alt. W.R. 50 ft. 10 M

3. Fl. 4 sec. 120 ft. 15 M

4. Iso R 2 sec.

5. F.R. 45 ft. 12 M.

Exercise 16. Choose the right variant. Study the text “Types of Lights” first.

1. A light which is constantly visible.	a) a flashing light	c) an occulting light
	b) a fixed light	d) an isophase light
2. A light which changes its colour is…	a) flashing	c) red
	b) green	d) alternating
3. A light which has a light and a dark interval of equal durations is …	a) constantly invisible	c) occulting
	b) isophase	d) leading
4. A light which has a longer light interval and a shorter dark one.	a) a flashing light	c) an occulting light
	b) a fixed light	d) an isophase light
5. The duration of eclipse is longer than that of light.	a) a flashing light	c) an occulting light
	b) a fixed light	d) an isophase light
6. The most conspicuous light by far is …	a) a flashing light	c) an occulting light
	b) a fixed light	d) an isophase light
7. The light that shows different colours one by one.	a) a flashing light	c) group-flashing light
	b) a alternating light	d) an isophase light

Exercise 17. Which word is the odd one out? Why? Check the meaning of new words in your dictionary. All new words and expressions should be added to the vocabulary of this lesson.

1	square	circular	concrete	pyramidal
2	pillar	base	pole	post
3	cable	fathom	mile	mast
4	hut	dwelling	foot	house
5	green	front	red	white
6	brick	stone	wood	granite
7	flash	tower	sparkle	eclipse
8	exhibited	shown	disposed	erected
9	cape	point	mole	bay
10	buoy	mark	light	stamp

Exercise 18. Use your dictionary and match the opposites.

northern show black short horizontal westward band high eastward dark land southern fixed white rear eclipse sea low front flash alternating light vertically stripe long hide

Exercise 19. Complete the test.

Test

1. We must sail _____ the buoy.	a) up	c) around
	b) next	d) down
2. Switch _____ the anchor lights.	a) from	c) of
	b) at	d) on
3. Turn hard to starboard _____ the first buoy.	a) against	c) in
	b)over	d) at
4. Keep going ____ the two lights are in line.	a) up	c) near
	b) along	d) until
5. They have _____ on the anchor lights.	a) switch	c) be switched
	b) switched	d) switching

Exercise 20. Get ready to speak about one of the following topics:

1. Types of lights and their characteristics.

2. Types of buoys and their functions.

3. The buoyage systems: lateral and cardinal systems.

4. Navigation lights.