Two Types of Aids to Navigation
Buoys and Beacons; Both have various shapes, sounds and light characteristics.
Buoys float and beacons are affixed to land.
Bouys
Nun
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Buoy-Nun.png)
Can
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Buoy-Can.png)
Bell
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Buoy-Bell.png)
Whistle
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Buoy-Whistle.png)
Gong
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Bouy-Gong.png)
Spar
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Bouy-Spar.png)
Lighted buoys
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Lighted-Bouy-1.png)
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Lighted-Bouy-2.png)
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Lighted-Bouy-3.png)
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Lighted-Bouy-4.png)
Beacons
Green or red lateral aids show channel edges
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) System A and IALA System B regulate navigational markings throughout most of the world
- System A is generally used in the Eastern Hemisphere
- System B is generally used in the Western Hemisphere (USA)
In Region B, red aids are on the right
- RED-RIGHT-RETURNING
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Bouys-Green-or-red-lateral-aids.png)
US Aids to Navigation (US ATONS)
Navigation aids in this lateral system are determined by their position with respect to the navigable channel, as the channels are entered and followed from seaward toward the head of navigation.
Green Aids – Odd Numbered | |
Red Aids – Even Numbered | |
Red Right – Returning applies |
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Green-or-red-lateral-aids.png)
Regulatory
Information
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Regulatory-INFORMATION.png)
Controlled
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Regulatory-CONTROLLED.png)
Danger
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Regulatory-DANGER.png)
Exclusion
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Regulatory-EXCLUSION.png)
![Aids to Navigation](https://betterbayalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Regulatory-Markers.png)