Special Buoys

Publicity

The shape of special buoys is not significant. These buoys may be lettered, but they have no numbers. They may have yellow lights and retroreflective material of the same color as the required markings. White buoys may display yellow material. The top mark on Cautionary, Scientific and Anchorage Buoys may be a yellow “X.”

Cautionary Buoy

  • Yellow in color.
  • If it has a top mark, the top mark is a single yellow “X.”. Marks warning or danger areas for mariners, including firing ranges, racing courses, seaplane bases, underwater structures, or areas where there are traffic separations, or in which no safe-through channel exists. Displays identification letter(s).
  • If it carries a light, it will be a flashing (Fl) 4 s. yellow light.

Anchorage Buoy

  • Yellow in color.
  • Marks the perimeters of designated anchorage areas.
  • Consult charts for water depth.

Keep Out Buoy

  • White in color.
  • On both or opposite sides of this buoy, you will see an orange diamond that has an orange cross inside of it. There is also an Orange horizontal band situated above and below each of the diamond symbols.
  • Marks an area where boats are prohibited.
  • If it has a light, it will be a flashing (Fl) 4 s. yellow light.

Control Buoy

  • White in color.
  • On both or opposite sides of this buoy, you will see an orange circle that has a black figure or symbol inside of it, which indicates the nature of the restriction in effect. There is also a horizontal orange band situated above and below the circles.
  • Marks an area where boating is restricted.
  • If it has a light, it will be a flashing (Fl) 4 s. yellow light.

Hazard Buoy

  • White in color.
  • On both or opposite sides of this buoy, you will see an orange diamond and an orange horizontal band below and above each of
  • the diamond symbols.
  • Marks random hazards such as rocks and shoals.
  • If it has a light, it will be a flashing (Fl) 4 s. yellow light.

Publicity

Information Buoy

  • White in color.
  • On both or opposite sides of this buoy, you will see an orange square and an orange horizontal band below and above each of the squares.
  • Displays, by words or symbols, information of interest.
  • If it has a light, it will be a flashing (Fl) 4 s. yellow light.

Information buoy

Diving Buoy and the Alfa (A) Flag

  • Marks an area where scuba diving or other such activity is in progress.
  • Is coloured white, and carries a red flag not less than 50cm square.
  • On the flag there is a white diagonal stripe that extends from the tip of the hoist (portion attached to the flagpole) to the bottom of the fly (side opposite to the portion attached to the flagpole).
  • If it has a light, it will be a flashing (F1) 4 s. yellow light.
  • The Alfa (A) Flag means “I have a diver down, keep well clear and proceed at a slow speed.”
  • Blue and white in color, with the fly section being blue.

Swimming Buoy

  • White in color.
  • Marks the perimeters of a swimming area.
  • If it has a light, it will be a flashing (F1) 4 s. yellow light.

Mooring Buoy

  • A mooring buoy is used for mooring or securing boats. Other buoys, such as navigational buoys should never be used to moor a boat.