The IALA system standardized navigation markings into two regions - Region A and Region B. Region A uses red markers on the port (left) side and green on the starboard (right) side, while Region B uses the opposite. The document describes the five main types of navigational aids used - lateral markers, cardinal markers, isolated danger markers, safe water markers, and special markers - and provides details on their colors, shapes, markings and lights to identify each type.

1. IALA buoyage system

2. • During the IALA conference in November 1980 two navigation
marking systems, ie the System A (red colour for the left hand of the
ship) and the System B (red colour for the right hand of the ship),
were combined into one - the IALA System.
• In the IALA System the regional (of the systems A and B) principle of
painting of the lateral signs was maintained. The countries that
accepted the red colour for the left hand lateral sings were included
in the region A. The countries that use the green colour for the left
hand lateral signs were included in the region B. In the both regions,
the fairway direction is the one leading from the sea (when a different
manner is used than an adequate notice is provided).

3. • Following to the division into the IALA System regions, marine maps
contain respective notice, ie the "IALA System Region A" or the "IALA
System Region B".
The IALA System has five types of signs that are used in various
associations. The signs have specific identification elements that
make them easily recognizable to the sailors. The lateral signs in the
Regions A and B are different, but the other four signs are common
for these both regions.
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4. • The lateral buoys and marks are placed according to the direction
accepted for marking of the right and left side of the fairway. In the
Region A, during the day and night, the green colour is used to mark
the right side of the fairway, and the red colour - to mark the left side.
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5. Regon ‘A’ Buoys
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6. 6dantha

7. Modified Lateral Buoys and Marks for(Preffered
Channel )
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8. Modified Lateral Buoys and Marks for 'B Region'
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9. Cardinal Buoys
• are pointing that the deepest water. Cardinal
buoys usually have the columned or bar shape
(poles). They are always painted into horizontal
yellow and black belts but their highest signs (two
cones) are always black. The arrangement of cones
is a sign of situating the black belt in the highest
sign (of belts).
• cones with tops up: black belt above yellow
• cones with tops into the bottom: black belt under
yellow
• cones with bases to oneself: black belt above and
under the yellow strip
• cones with tops to oneself: black belt, it and under
him yellow belts
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10. Cardinal Buoys
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11. Isolated danger marks
• Marks indicating Isolated dangers are placed directly over minor
obstacles around which the water is navigable. The have shapes of
columns, poles or other, however, they are difficult to confuse with
the cardinal buoys. They are black with horizontal red stripes. The top
marks consists of two black spheres one above the other. The light is
white - a group flash light Fl(2) with two flashes in a group.

12. Safe water marks
• They indicate that water is navigable around the mark and they do
not show any hazards. They can be used to mark, eg a fairway axis or
as approach signs. The safe water marks appearance is completely
different from the one of the buoys that indicate the hazard. Their
may have a shape of a sphere, a column or a pole, with a red sphere
as a top mark. These are the only marks painted in vertical stripes
(red and white). When the light is installed, then its colour is white
and its rhythm may be isophase, occulting, long flash or the Morse
Code letter "A".

14. Special marks
• Special Buoys and Marks do not represent navigational aids. They indicate
a special area or an object mentioned on maps or in other nautical
documents and publications.
• These special marks are painted yellow and have a topmark in the shape of
a yellow lying cross (X). The light (if installed) is also yellow. As in poor
visibility it is possible to mistake the yellow colour for the white, the yellow
lights of the special marks cannot have the rhythm adopted for marks with
the white light. The shape of the special marks cannot be confused with
the shape of navigational marks, ie if special marks have been used to
mark, eg the left side of the fairway, then they must have a cylindrical and
not conical shape. The special marks may have letters or numbers painted
on them

16. New danger mark
• Attention is being drawn to the fact that a "new danger" that has not
yet been announced in nautical documents may be indicated with a
duplicating mark being identical (in all details) with the principal
mark. The duplicating mark should stay until the news about the new
danger has been adequately announced. The "new danger" mark
should be equipped with a Racon sending out the letter "D" in the
Morse Code.

18. Colour Blue/Yellow vertical stripes in equal number
dimensions (minimum 4 stripes and maximum 8)
Shape of buoy Pillar or spar
Top-mark (if any) Vertical/perpendicular yellow cross
Light
Colour Yellow/blue alternating
Rhythm One second second of blue light and one second of
yellow light with 0.5 seconds of darkeness between