atons (aids to navigation)
DESCRIPTION
Justin Cherniak Cruising Skills Classroom Hoofer Sailing Club. ATONs (Aids to Navigation). Aids to Navigation. Items found on waterways to identify safe channels to pass Buoys (floating) or beacons (fixed) Meaning defined by combination of shape, color, number and sometimes light pattern. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ATONs (Aids to Navigation)
Justin CherniakCruising Skills ClassroomHoofer Sailing Club
Aids to Navigation
Items found on waterways to identify safe channels to pass
Buoys (floating) or beacons (fixed) Meaning defined by combination of
shape, color, number and sometimes light pattern
Lateral Marks Indicate the left and right sides of a channel “Red, right, returning” – keep red on right side
when going from larger smaller body of waterLeft side
• Flat top• Cans – flat cylinder• Square day mark
• Green colored• Odd Numbers• Indicate left side of channel
when returning from sea
• Right side• Pointed top
• Nuns – conical shaped buoy
• Triangle day mark• Red colored• Even numbers• Indicate right side of
channel when returningfrom sea
Other marksSafe-Water Marks Junction Marks
• Used to indicate the center of a channel (from seaward approach)
• Can be approached from all sides
• Red and white stripes• Unnumbered (although
sometimes lettered)
• Indicate a fork in the channel• Unnumbered (although
sometimes lettered)• Red and green striped• Red top - treat as red lateral
mark• Green top– treat as green
lateral mark
Mooring Buoy Isolated Danger Mark• Indicate a mooring area• Can be used to attach boats• White with blue top
• Indicates a danger that should be avoided but can be passed on all sides
• Black and red with 2 balls on top
Regulatory Marks
Indicate some sort of danger or other regulatory measure
White with red stripes An open diamond shape signifies danger. A diamond with a cross in it signifies an
exclusion area that you may not enter.• A circle indicates an
upcoming operating restriction, such as a speed limit or no wake zone
• A square or rectangular shape is used for conveying instructions or information
ICW - Intercoastal waterway Inland waterway that runs around
coast from North -> South and East -> West
Have yellow symbols on buoys that should be followed instead of traditional green/red
Square – keep ATON to port(like a green ATON)
Triangle – keep ATON to starboard (like a red ATON)
Example