2. CARDINAL MARKS DANGER North Cardinal Safe Passage to North 2 arrows point up East Cardinal Safe Passage to East 2 arrows point out Egg Shaped East South Cardinal Safe Passage to South 2 arrows point down West Cardinal Safe Passage to West 2 arrows point in Wasp-Waisted West Marks safe passage for BIG ships – may be safe just inside buoy – however – it may not Not all dangers are surrounded by navigable waters – therefore it is rare to see all four cardinals in an area. Treat each one separately. i.e. go West of a WCM etc.
3. CARDINAL MARKS – at night DANGER North Cardinal Continuous Flashing White East Cardinal Groups of 3 flashes White South Cardinal 6 short and 1 long flash White West Cardinal Groups of 9 flashes White Based on the clock: 12 flashes at the top, 3 at 3 o’clock etc.
4. CHANNEL MARKERS PORT HAND MARK “ Any Red Port Left in the Barrel?” It’s red and has a barrell shaped top, it is left to port (left) on way into a harbour. Flashes Red at night (pattern on chart to allow you to tell the difference between 2) STARBOARD HAND MARK It’s green and has a cone shaped top, it is left to starboard (right) on way into a harbour. Flashes Green at night (pattern on chart to allow you to tell the difference between 2) Again this is a big ship channel, small boats may be fine outside channel A starboard mark with a red stripe indicates the channel splits, preferred route to port (i.e. it is still left on starboard) similarly for a port with green stripe, preferred to starboard
5. SAFE WATER MARK Red and White Vertical stripes with red ball on top Navigable water all around – often used to mark the start of a channel Flashes white at night – pattern described on chart
6. ISOLATED DANGER MARK Black and red horizontal stripes + 2 black balls On top of a danger Use chart to determine size of danger before passing close Flashes in groups of 2 white at night.
7. SPECIAL MARKS Yellow Used for Racing, Survey work, Pipes, Military Exercises etc. Flash yellow, pattern on chart.
9. DAYMARKS Used by ships to tell you what is going on. Not Under Command Motorsailing (loses rights of a Sailing boat) Dredging or Underwater Ops (pass on Diamonds side) Fishing or Trawling Constrained by Draught Minesweeper Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre Aground Single black ball – at anchor
