Canadian Coast Guard

Canada's Buoyage System

Overview

The buoyage system used in Canada corresponds to the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Maritime Buoyage System which has been adopted by all of the major maritime nations in the world. This system includes lateral, cardinal, and special buoys.

For lateral buoys, the IALA Maritime Buoyage System divides the world into two regions, "A" and "B".

Within Region "B", which comprises all of North and South America, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines, starboard hand buoys are red and port hand buoys are green. Within Region "A", which includes the rest of the world, the application of these colours is reversed (i.e. red to port and green to starboard). Bifurcation buoys are similarly affected in that the predominant colour of starboard bifurcation buoys is red in Region "B" and green in Region "A" and that of port bifurcation buoys is green in Region "B" and red in Region "A". All other aspects of the IALA Maritime Buoyage System are the same in both Regions "A" and "B".

• Historical Background - Maritime Buoyage System.

Since the shape and/or colour of a buoy and the colour and flash character of the light on the buoy indicate the function of the buoy, it is essential that mariners use up to date nautical charts with this system.

The Canadian Coast Guard has published "The Canadian Aids to Navigation System (TP 968E)" which provides a comprehensive view of the aids to navigation system in Canada. Should you wish to obtain a copy of this publication please refer to the "publications" page of this website for details on how to order.

Please refer to the IALA website for a more extensive look at the International Maritime Buoyage Systems.

Glossary of terms

Lateral buoys - indicate the side on which they may be safely passed. There are six types of lateral buoys: port hand, starboard hand, port bifurcation, starboard bifurcation, fairway, and isolated danger.

Cardinal buoys - indicate the location of the safest or deepest water by reference to the cardinal points of the compass. There are four cardinal buoys: North, East, South and West.

Special buoys - are used to convey, a variety of information to the mariner, which while important, is not primarily intended to assist in the navigation of the vessel. The shapes of special buoys have no significance and a variety of shapes may be used in practice.

Many special buoys are privately owned. As required by the Private Buoy Regulations such buoys must display the letters "PRIV" as well as the owner's name, address and telephone number. They will not display numbers or letters conforming to the Canadian Coast Guard identification system.

NOTE: Keepout and Control buoys are governed by the Canada Shipping Act, Boating Restriction Regulations. ODAS and Diving buoys are governed by the Canada Shipping Act, Collision Regulations.