Charts & Aids to Navigation
A vast expanse of open water off your bow might appear to be a
go anywhere playground or a place to become hopelessly lost. It
is neither.
How do you know where to go? Just as maps and signs guide
you on land, nautical charts and buoys guide you afloat.
Nautical Charts
provide vital information on water hazards and
safe channels. Several government agencies are responsible for
charts for different types of waterways: National Ocean Service,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Defense Mapping Agency, and
Canadian Hydrographic Service. Charts are available at retail
stores in many boating areas.
We strongly urge you to attend boating classes to learn charting
and navigation skills before taking the helm of your vessel.
Buoys
are strategically placed to keep you on course and out of
hazardous areas. Know their meaning and use them
appropriately. Buoys are identified by shape, color, light, and in
reduced visibility by sound. There are two international buoyage
systems, one using Red Right Returning as a guide (Region B)
and the other using Green Right Returning (Region A). The map
below indicates regions using each system. The illustration on
the next page indicates placement of basic navigational aids and
colors for each region.
Example: Red Right Returning – when returning from sea or
going upstream, keep red markers to starboard (right) and green
markers to port (left). When outbound, reverse the colors – red to
port and green to starboard.
Buoys are sometimes not on station due to currents, heavy seas
or other conditions. Consult
Notice to Mariners
publication for
information on buoys off station and light outages.
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