I. GENERAL
1. Marking of waterwayse
The waterway, the fairway, as well as the danger points and obstacles are not always marked.
Floating waterway markings, are anchored at approximately 5 m distance from the limits that they indicate.
Groynes and shallows can be marked using fixed marks or buyos. These marks or buyos are usually placed on the borders of groynes and shallows or in front of them.e
It is necessary to keep a sufficient distance from the marks and the buyos to avoid the risk of getting on the ground or hitting an obstacle.
2. Definitions
Light: a distinctive light used as a marking.
Fixed light: an uninterrupted light of constant intensity and colour.
Rhythmic light: a light of constant intensity and colour operating in a characteristic and regularly repeated succession of spells of illumination and extinction.
3. Rhythm of lights
Examples: | |||
Single-occulting light |  | ||
Group-occulting light |  | ||
Isophase light |  | ||
Single-flashing light |  | ||
Group-flashing light |  | ||
Composite group-flashing light |  | ||
Continuous scintillating light or continuous quick scintillating light |  | ||
Group scintillating light or
group quick scintillating light |  |  | |
 | |||
II. BUOYAGE OF FAIRWAY LIMITS IN THE WATERWAY
1. Right-hand side of the fairway
1.A Buoy with light | 1.B Buoy without light | 1.C Float with a topmark | 1.D Spar |
(fig. 1) | |||
Colour: red Generally with radar reflector. |  |
2. Left-hand side of the fairway
2.A Buoy with light |
2.B Buoy without light |
 2.C Float with a topmark |
 2.D Spar |
(fig. 2) | |||
Colour: green Generally with radar reflector |  |
3. Bifurcation of the fairway
3.A Buoy with light |
3.B Buoy without light |
3.C Float with a topmark |
3.D Spar |
(fig. 3) | |||
Colour: horizontal red and green bands or isophase white light (may be group-flashing white light with a group of three flashes) Generally with radar reflector |  |
Where necessary, a red cylindrical topmark or green conical topmark placed above the bifurcation mark indicates on which side it is preferable to pass (main fairway).
The mark shall then bear a rhythmic red light or a rhythmic green light, as appropriate.
3.E |
3.E1 |
3.F |
3.F1 |
(fig. 4) | |||
4. A letter "P” painted in white on the buoys described in paragraphs 1 and 2 indicates that the fairway is adjacent to a berthing area. If the buoys showing the letter "P" carry a light, its rhythm shall be different from that of the lights of other buoys placed along the fairway limit.
III. MARKS ON LAND INDICATING THE POSITION OF THE FAIRWAY
A. Marks on land indicating the position of the fairway in relation to the banks
These marks indicate the position of the fairway in relation to the bank and, together with the buoyage of the waterway, mark the fairway at points where it approaches a bank; they also serve as landmarks.
1. Channel near the right bank
4.A With light | 4.B Without light |
(fig. 5) | |
Colour: red/white |  |
2. Channel near the left bank
5 .A With light |
5.B Without light |
| (fig. 6) | |
Colour: green/white |  |
3. Use of marks
 (fig. 7) |
B. MARKING OF CROSS-OVERS
These marks indicate at what point the fairway passes from one bank to another and also give the axis of this cross-over.
1. Right bank
 4.C With light |
4.D Without light |
| (fig. 8) | |
Colour: yellow/black |  |
2. Left bank
5.C With light |
5.D Without light |
| (fig. 9) | |
Colour: yellow/black Form: post with topmark Topmark: square yellow board (diagonals horizontal and vertical), with a central vertical black stripe Light (when fitted): yellow light, flashing or occulting, with an odd-number characteristic other than the group-flashing rhythm with a group of three flashes. |  |
3. Use of marks
3.1 Mere indication of cross-over
(fig. 10) |
3.2 Indication of the axis of a long cross-over
Two identical signs placed one behind the other on the same bank, the first sign positioned lower than the second one, forming an alignment marking the axis of a long cross-over.
Lights (if any): yellow (the forward light and rearward light generally having the same rhythm; however, the rearward light may be a fixed light).
 |
 |
| (fig.11) |
IV. BUOYAGE AND MARKING OF DANGER POINTS AND OBSTACLES
A. FIXED MARKS
1. | Right-hand side | 4.F (fig. 12) |
2. | Left-hand side | 5.F (fig. 13) |
3. | Bifurcation Colour: red/green
The above cones may be replaced by triangular panels with a white background and a red or green border. |
| |
6.A |
6.B | ||
(fig. 14) | |||
4. | Secondary arms of the waterway, mouths of waterways and entrances to harbours On the approach to secondary arms of the waterway, to mouths of waterways and to harbour entrances, the bank walls on both sides of the waterway may be marked as far as the head of the dividing mole by the fixed marks described in 1 and 2 above, figures 12 and 13. Vessels entering the harbour are regarded as upstream traffic. |
B. BUOYS
1.
| Right-hand side | ||
Colour: horizontal red and white bands Generally with radar reflector |
1.F1 |
1.F | |
(fig. 15) | |||
2. | Left-hand side | ||
Colour: horizontal green and white bands Generally with radar reflector |
2.F1 |
2.F | |
| (fig. 16) | ||
| Example of use of the buoyage and marking described in chapters II and IV |
(fig. 17) |
IV bis. OTHER MARKING OF DANGER POINTS AND OBSTACLES IN THE WATERWAY
A. Passage permitted on the clear side without reducing speed
By night | By day | ||
| Obstructed side | Obstructed side | ||
 | One red light |
| No entry sign A.1 |
or | |||
 | One red ball | ||
Clear side | Clear side | ||
 | Two green lights one above the other |  | Entry permitted E.1 |
or | |||
 | Two green bicones one above the other | ||
(fig. 17 bis) | |||
Example: | By night | By day | |
|  |  |  |
(fig. 17 ter) | |||
B. Passage permitted on the clear side at reduced speed (avoid creating wash)
By night | By day | ||
| Obstructed side | Obstructed side | ||
| One red light |
| One red flag or red board |
Clear side | Clear side | ||
 | One red light above one white light |  | One red flag or board above one white flag or board |
(fig. 17 quater) | |||
Example: | By night | By day |
|  |  |
(fig. 17 quinquies) | ||
V. ADDITIONAL MARKING FOR NAVIGATION BY RADAR
A. MARKING OF BRIDGE PIERS (WHERE APPLICABLE)
1.
| Yellow floats with radar reflector (placed upstream and downstream from piers) | |
8.C |
8.C1 | |
(fig. 18) | ||
2. | Pole with radar reflector placed upstream and downstream from bridge piers |
8.C2 (fig. 19) |
B. MARKING OF OVERHEAD CABLES (WHERE APPLICABLE)
1. | Radar reflectors secured to the overhead cable (giving a radar image of a series of points to identify the overhead cable) |
8.C3 (fig. 20) |
2. | Radar reflectors placed on yellow floats arranged in pairs near each bank (each pair giving a radar image of two points side by side to identify the overhead cable) |
8.C4 (fig. 21) |
VI. ADDITIONAL BUOYAGE AND MARKING OF LAKES AND BROAD WATERWAYS
A. MARKING OF DANGER POINTS, OBSTACLES AND SPECIAL FEATURES
1. Cardinal marks
Definition of cardinal quadrants and marks
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 the mark should be passed on the side of the quadrant named.
 | |
| Description of cardinal marks (fig.22) | |
North cardinal mark | East cardinal mark |
Colour: black above yellow Light (when fitted):
| Colour: black with a single broad horizontal yellow band Light (when fitted): |
South cardinal mark | West cardinal mark |
Colour: yellow above black Light (when fitted) : | Colour: yellow with a single broad horizontal black band Light (when fitted): |
2. Isolated danger marks
An isolated danger mark is a mark erected on, or moored above an isolated danger which has safe water all around it.
Colour: black with one or more broad horizontal Light (when fitted):
|
|
|
(fig. 23) | ||
B. MARKING OF THE AXIS OF A CHANNEL, THE MIDDLE OF A CHANNEL OR A LANDFALL
Safe-water marks
Colour: red and white vertical stripes Light (when fitted): | | |
|
(fig. 24) | |||
C. WEATHER SIGNS AND SIGNALS ON LAKES
“Caution” warning
A yellow light producing about 40 flashes per minute constitutes a “caution” warning.
The “caution” warning indicates the probable onset of a dangerous phenomenon without specifying the time thereof.
“Danger” warning
A yellow light producing about 90 flashes per minute constitutes a “danger” warning.
The danger warning indicates the imminent arrival of a dangerous phenomenon.
VII. MARKING OF PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED AREAS
1. Special marks
Colour: yellow
Form: any, but different from navigational marks
Topmark (if any): single yellow “X” shape
Light (when fitted):
Colour: yellow
Rhythm: any, other than those described in chapter VI.
2. The nature of the prohibition or restriction shall, insofar as possible, be made clear in writing (for instance, in charts) and by local information.
Local information may be carried on yellow buoys. It may also be given by means of topmarks placed on such buoys in lieu of a topmark as prescribed above. For example, buoys at the edge of a zone where navigation is totally prohibited may carry a staff with a rigid, triangular red pennon.
Information may be given on boards placed on the bank and representing any of the prohibitory or informative signs prescribed in annex 7, sections I.A and I.E. Such boards may, if necessary, be supplemented by an arrow indicating the direction of the area to which the sign applies (see annex 7, section II.3).
3. If a shore zone in which one or more types of vessel or activity are prohibited or restricted is crossed by a fairway in which one such type of vessel or activity is not prohibited or restricted (except as regards an entrance to a harbour to which section II applies), the sides of that fairway may, again, be marked by yellow buoys. The upper parts of the two buoys at the entrance may, if necessary, be painted red on the right-hand side and green on the left-hand side for a boatmaster leaving the fairway.
On the bank, boards as prescribed in annex 7, E.15 to E.20, may indicate the type of craft or activity permitted (e.g. the “water skiing” permission sign to indicate a water-skiing fairway across an area where all navigation, or only water skiing, is prohibited); the markings may be supplemented by the arrow prescribed in annex 7, section II.3.
Where a zone open for more than one activity is crossed by a fairway in which only one activity is permitted, the sides of that fairway may be marked as in the above case. A board on the bank may indicate the activity permitted.
VIII. BUOYS FOR MISCELLANEOUS PURPOSES
If buoys are required for purposes other than those referred to above, they shall be predominantly white. They may carry pictograms.
IX. ENTRANCES TO HARBOURS
1. Marking of the entrance
By day:
To port of a vessel entering: red device, generally cylindrical; or a post with a cylindrical red topmark; or a red rectangle painted in the jetty;
To starboard of a vessel entering: green device, generally conical; or a post with a conical green topmark; or a green triangle, point upward, painted on the jetty.
At night:
The day markings described above may be illuminated.
If lights are used:
To port of a vessel entering: a red light, generally rhythmic;
To starboard of a vessel entering: a green light, generally rhythmic.
In certain cases, only one of these lights may be used.
2. This marking may be also used for entrances to tributary waterways, entrances to secondary arms of waterways and entrances to docks.
The following sketch illustrates the provisions of chapters VI, VII and IX.
 |
[1] In this instance, a long flash permits clear differentiation of the rhythm.
Overview
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CEVNI Revision 5
Inland Water Transport
UNECE Transport Division