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The Navy uses thousands of boats, ranging in size maintenance of their craft, they must receive training in
from dinghies to landing craft. These boats are powered a number of other areas.
by diesels and by outboard motors. Most of them are Some of the techniques to be mastered require
built of steel, aluminum, or fiber glass. The term boat considerable practice and experience before a boat crew
refers to small craft that are limited in use by their size. member can become accomplished in this work.
Usually, they are not capable of making regular,
Included in these skills are the following:
independent voyages of any length on the high seas.
This chapter is important because you, very early in Hoisting, lowering, and securing methods
your career, may be assigned as a member of a boat crew Operating boats properly under all conditions,
and later on as a coxswain. including a knowledge of the Rules of the Road
To assume the duties of a coxswain, you must know Knowledge of buoy systems
the following:
Boat etiquette
Who is responsible for each task
What the duties of other crew members are, and NOMENCLATURE OF BOATS
be able to carry them out in an emergency
The purpose of each piece of boat equipment LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define boat
nomenclature. List the parts of a boat and
How to read signal flags, so you can return to
explain boat construction.
your ship if recalled
Small boats carried aboard a ship, which are As used in this text, nomenclature refers to the
lowered to perform various tasks, are known as the names given to the various parts or fittings of a boat.
ship's boats.
Most boats in service in today's Navy are of molded
The distinction between a ship and a boat is largely fiber glass or of metal skeletons to which metal plates
one of size; boats are carried by ships. have been attached to form a hull.
Boat seamanship encompasses more than a Figure 5-1 gives you an idea of how a boat is
knowledge of the kinds of boats in operation in the Navy. constructed. The backbone of the skeleton is called a
Since boat crews are responsible for the upkeep and keel, and its ribs are the frames. Bilges are the inner parts

Figure 5-1.–Names of boat parts.

of the hull on either side of the keel up to where the sides rudder is turned by a steering wheel attached to a system
begin. of ropes, push-pull cables, or a mechanically or
hydraulically operated arm attached to the rudder stock.
The most forward part of the boat is the stem. The
outboard part of the stem that is below the surface is Most boats 50 feet long or under are made of plastic
called the cutwater. Starting just abaft the stem and or fiber glass.
running fore and aft on both sides, there is usually a
half-rounded fender, called the beading. Abaft the stem TYPES OF BOATS
is a ring (hoisting eye) and cleats, used for securing the
boat's painter (which is the line used to make the boat LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the
fast by the bow. A similar line in the stern is called a stern different types of boats used in the U.S. Navy.
fast.) At the after end is the sternpost.
Somewhere in the bilges forward and aft, adjacent There are a number of types of boats used in the
to the keelson (inside upper edge of the keel), every boat Navy today. We briefly describe a few of the boats most
has a couple of screw plugs, which permit water to be commonly seen, although you will surely see many
drained out when the boat is out of the water. Each Navy others during your naval career.
boat has a set of strong hoisting eyes for attaching slings
or boat falls when hoisting. (Large craft have several LANDING CRAFT
sets of hoisting padeyes and multiple slings or a rigid
for single point pickups.) Landing craft (called boats) are carried by various
amphibious ships and are referred to by designation.
All boats are equipped with a rudder for steering They are designed to transport personnel and/or cargo
when underway. A rudder blade is attached to the rudder from ship to shore. Figure 5-2, view A is a line drawing
stock, which enters the hull through a stuffing box. The of an LCP(L); view B is a line drawing of an LCM.

Figure 5-2.–Landing craft; (A) 36-foot LCP(L), (B) 74-foot LCM.

The following amphibious ships carries landing ship to shore, act as the ship mail carrier, and to ferry
craft for the movement of personnel and cargo from the cargo as needed. The larger personnel boats are divided
ship to shore. into four spaces: the cockpit, the engine compartment,
and the fore-and-aft passenger compartments. The
General-purpose assault ships (LHAs) smaller personnel boat has no fwd passenger
Multipurpose assault ships (LHDs) compartment. A canopy may be installed over the
cockpit during adverse weather conditions.
Cargo ships (LKAs)
Landing ships (LSDs) MOTOR WHALEBOATS (MWBs)
Tank landing ships (LSTs)
Motor whaleboats (MWBs) are round-bottomed,
PERSONNEL BOATS diesel-powered boats used as lifeboats and shipboard
utility boats.
Personnel boats (fig. 5-3) are heavy-duty, Some ships use MWBs as gigs and officers' boats,
square-sterned boats in various lengths from 26 to 40 in which case they have canvas or herculite canopies.
feet. They are used to transport officer personnel from MWBs should never be overcrowded. The Mk 10 MWB

Figure 5-3.–33-foot personnel boat.

(fig. 5-4) is divided into the forward, engine, and after UTILITY BOATS
Utility boats (UBs), 22 to 50 feet long, are
PUNTS generally used as cargo and personnel carriers
(fig. 5-6) or as heavy-duty workboats. Many Ubs
Punts are open square-ended boats 10 or 14 feet are modified for other operations.
long. They are rowed (sculled) and are generally used
by side cleaners and paint crews. See figure 5-5.

Figure 5-4.–Mk 10 motor whaleboat.

Figure 5-5.–14-foot punt.

Figure 5-6.–33-foot utility boat.

STANDARD BOAT EQUIPMENT Grapnel, No. 4 with 6 feet of 1/4-inch close-link

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: List the standard Boat hook, 8-foot
boat equipment. Explain the upkeep,
maintenance and care of small boat equipment. Line, anchor, 25 fathoms of 2 1/4-inch line
Line, grapnel, 15 fathoms of 21-thread line
Every Navy boat in active service is required to have Bow, painter, 5 fathoms of 3-inch line
a complete outfit of equipment as designated by the
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEASYSCOM), Stern fast, 5 fathoms of 3-inch line
Naval Ships' Technical Manual, Chapter 583, “Boats Fire extinguisher, 15-pound CO2 portable type
and Small Craft”, OPNAVINST 3120.32 B and
applicable publications.
The Coordinated Shipboard Allowance List UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE
(COSAL) lists all the items required with the boat on the
ship (items furnished with the boat) and the items that During active service, every effort should be made
must be requisitioned. The equipment furnished with to provide thorough ventilation and drainage and to
each boat, called portable parts, generally consists of the prevent water leakage. Standing water and oil in the
following items: bilges, even in small amounts, is hazardous; therefore,
Anchor, 30-pound LWT (lightweight) seams must be carefully caulked and maintained
watertight. In fair weather, hatches and deck plates of
Bucket boats afloat should be opened to increase air circulation.
Life rings, 24-inch Wet dunnage, line, and life jackets in lockers should be
removed and aired out. Boat crews should be alert for
Fenders leaks beneath the covering board and deckhouse area.

CARE OF EQUIPMENT operation of the boat or the safety of personnel aboard)
All boat passengers and crew must wear life jackets
When boats are removed from the water, propellers when weather conditions are hazardous.
and sea suction should be checked and all deficiencies
Before operating the boat, the coxswain must
corrected. Engine oil should be changed after every 100
inventory the personnel safety equipment and other
hours of running time, or as required by the Planned
equipage in the boat equipment to make sure it is all on
Maintenance System (PMS). Gear housings, steering
mechanisms, and all moving parts must be kept well board.
lubricated. Avoid spillage of fuel or oil; fumes from The coxswain must record courses and en route
these are especially dangerous. The loads supported by times, in the appropriate log, to all landings visited under
gripe pads should be distributed as evenly as possible, various conditions of tide. The compass course and
to prevent hull deformation/damage. navigation aids, upon entry to a port, are verified in
company with the navigator and/or quartermaster
BOAT CREW DUTIES during the first boat run.
The coxswain is responsible to the OOD and the
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: List and explain the division officer for the boat's cleanliness and readiness
duties of the boat crew. for service. Coxswains and boat crews are representa-
tives of the ship and should take pride in their
All members of a boat crew must know their duties appearance and in the image presented by their boat. The
and be qualified second-class swimmers to ensure safe ship's regulations frequently require, for example, that
handling of the boat. This section covers the duties of crew members wear clean white sneakers. This is
the coxswain, the bow hook, the stern hook, the boat primarily a safety factor, but also aids in keeping boats
keeper, the boat engineer and the boat officer. The duties looking neat.
of the boat engineer are outlined in the latest Fireman
Supplying oilskins or rain clothes for the boat's
TRAMAN. The duties and responsibilities for boat
crew is the coxswain's responsibility. The gear should
operation are outlined in the Ship's Boat Bill. The
be all of one type, if possible, and should be kept in the
coxswain must know the bill and its contents.
boat when not in use. Wearing foul weather gear is
strictly prohibited for boat crews unless severe weather
requires its use. Usually, the senior officer present afloat
(SOPA) issues instructions that set the uniform for boat
As the coxswain of a boat, you must assume many
duties and responsibilities. It is your duty to be familiar crews. If you are not familiar with these instructions,
with all details relating to the care and handling of your check with the OOD before reporting for boat duty. Then
boat. As a coxswain, you must know the boat’s physical inform your crew of the proper uniform so that all crew
characteristics, draft, and cargo and passenger members will be dressed correctly before being called
capabilities in both fair weather and foul. These away.
capacities are stamped on the boat label. It is important When called away, man your boat promptly. In the
that the limits not be exceeded. Subject to the orders of absence of a boat officer, the coxswain receives orders
the officer of the deck (OOD) and the commanding from the OOD.
officer, you, as the coxswain, will have full charge of
When the boat is underway, the coxswain should
the boat and its crew.
station the bow hook in the forward part of the boat to
act as a bow lookout. This requirement is of major
WARNING importance in boats such as LCMs, where the
coxswain's vision is severely limited.
Boat crews entering or leaving the boat via
A boat coxswain must see that the crew and
the boat boom must wear inherently buoyant
passengers sit in their proper places and that the crew
(kapok) life jackets.
outside the canopy conduct themselves in a military
manner when salutes are exchanged.
The coxswain is responsible for making sure the
boat crew and personnel embarked comply with all Coxswains of powerboats should pay particular
safety regulations. (Passengers, regardless of rating, attention to canopy curtains. When curtains are not
must obey the coxswain's orders if they concern the required, they should be rolled and stopped up. When in

use, they should be stopped down to the washboard. It Officers of the deck (OOD) are responsible for the
is not “shipshape” to stop down only one comer of a side appearance of the ship; and, because they cannot see the
curtain. When running bow into the sea, it is sufficient ship as it appears from a distance, most will appreciate
to haul down the curtains on the weather side, leaving it if the coxswain quietly informs them of any
them furled on the lee side. Under all circumstances, the irregularities noticed about the ship. Some examples are
curtains must be stowed neatly in place. For safety, a items hanging over the sides, loose gun and gun director
ready exit from the boat is essential, and curtain stops covers, and Irish pennants. The coxswain should make
should be broken easily from inside. it a habit to notice such things when returning to the ship.
Coxswains of powerboats must require the stern After the coxswain returns from a run and reports to the
hook to pay particular attention to the appearance of the OOD, the coxswain, when ordered, properly secures the
boat's stern sheets. Cushion covers must be kept neat boat to the boat boom, comes aboard, and waits for the
and clean. The boat flag, when not in use, should be next run (see fig. 5-7).
rolled neatly on its flagstaff and triced up overhead. The crew must never be allowed to be absent from
When a boat is called for the use of commissioned the boat without proper authority while it is at a landing.
officers, the stern hook should spread the boat cloth
neatly in the stern sheets of the boat. The stern hook must The coxswain never permits smoking in boats.
see that the foot cloths (or ladder if used) are on the When boats are ordered to secure, they are reported as
proper side of the boat; that is, the side on which the secured to the OOD by the coxswain. The coxswain
passengers are expected to enter. must know the capacity of the boat in good and bad

Figure 5-7.–Securing a boat to a boom.

weather conditions, as the boat will not safety carry the and ready to run. The boat engineer also performs duty
same number of people in bad weather as it will carry as a stern hook on most boats.
in good weather.
During heavy weather and other times as deemed
Bow hooks and stern hooks must acquire all the necessary, an officer (sometimes a chief petty officer
knowledge necessary to operate the boat in the event that [CPO]) is assigned to a boat as the boat officer.
one of them should be required to relieve the coxswain A boat officer naturally has authority over the
in an emergency. When the boat is in operation, the bow coxswain. However, the boat officer does not assume
hook should always be forward acting as a lookout, the coxswain's responsibilities nor relieve the coxswain
keeping watch for any floating object or hazard that of his normal duties. The coxswain and the boat officer
might damage the boat or result in a collision. Both bow are jointly responsible for the boat and the safety and of
hooks and stern hooks should be ready at all times to the crew and the passengers. The situation is somewhat
fend off the boat from contact with other boats, the like the relationship between the OOD and the
gangway, or the landing. commanding officer on the bridge.

Bow Hook
On approaching the landing, the bow hook should
be ready to spring ashore smartly with the bow line and LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Describe the basic
take a turn on the nearest cleat. Also, the bow hook principles of boat operations.
should be ready in the bow with the boat hook when
approaching a ship's gangway, to snag the boat line and One of the duties you may experience as a Seaman
make fast. The bow hook should always have a fender is as a member of a boat crew. You may be assigned as
ready to drop over at the proper spot if a bump becomes bow hook, stern hook, or perhaps even coxswain. You
unavoidable. must know the nomenclature, characteristics, and
handling of small boats.
Stern Hook
The stern hook, likewise, should be ready to jump The process of hoisting and lowering boats with a
ashore at once to make the stern fast. Both the bow hook crane primarily entails handling the slings by the safety
and stern hook must be at their lines, ready to cast off runner (fig. 5-8). The safety runner, a short wire
and jump aboard, when the boat is about to get pendant, is attached to the bill of the hook on a boat crane
underway. They should never cast off, however, without and is connected to a tripping line. A pull on the tripping
orders from the coxswain. The coxswain frequently has line causes the safety runner to dump the ring of the boat
to go ahead or back down on one of the lines to clear the slings off the hook.
landing. Lines should be kept neatly flemish down and
the fenders rigged in when not in use. When a boat comes alongside a ship underway to
be hoisted in, it first secures to the end of the sea
BOAT KEEPER painter–a strong line that hangs over the side of the ship
and is located forward of the spot where the boat will be
Personnel assigned as boat keepers assume hoisted. The shipboard end of the line is bent securely
responsibility for care of the boat in the absence of the to a cleat or a set of bitts. The eye of the sea painter is
crew. lowered to the boat and tended by means of a light line
called a lizard line. The bow hook secures the eye to the
BOAT ENGINEER inboard bow cleat, the cleat nearest the side of the ship.

The boat engineer performs maintenance on the NOTE

engine as needed. Only the boat engineer should work
on the engine. The boat engineer must ensure that the The sea painter is never secured to the
engine and the engine components are in good condition boat's stern or to the side of the bow away from

first (hook pointing aft). The bow hook must rotate the
block until all the twists are out of the falls before
hooking on; otherwise, a dangerous jam will occur as
the blocks draw together. Once the forward block is
hooked on, the stern hook removes the twists in the after
fall and then attaches the after Raymond release hook
(hook pointing forward). Both then secure the releasing
hooks closed by their lanyards using three figure-eights
and a half hitch. Manropes (monkey lines) are
suspended from the strongback/span wire to the boat,
and each person aboard must support part of his or her
weight on the line as the boat rises, to be ready in any
Hard hats with chin straps and inherently buoyant
life preservers must be worn by personnel when they are
being hoisted or lowered in a boat.


In operating a boat, the most important point to

remember is that the stern, not the bow, goes off track
first when the rudder is turned; the boat reacts to the
Figure 5-8.–Safety runner.
rudder much faster at high speed than at low speed.
Often, when you see that you did not allow yourself
enough room for a turn, gunning of the engine will bring
it around in time. You will have to make a judgment call
on that.
the ship. To do so would cause the boat to dive
against the side of the ship when the boat begins All single-screw boats have right-handed screws
to ride the painter, and it would probably turning in a clockwise direction going ahead, when
capsize. It is important that the sea painter be viewed from astern. For this reason, the side force of
adjusted properly and that the boat be allowed the screw, when going ahead, tends to walk the stern
to drop back on it so that the boat's attachment to starboard when the boat is gathering headway. This
point will be directly under the crane before screw action means that your boat always makes a
lifting. Otherwise, it may broach to and capsize faster turn to port than to starboard when gathering
as it starts to leave the water. headway.
When backing, however, the stern tends to walk to
Once it rides to the painter, and the slings are port, no matter how much rudder you put on to the right.
attached, the boat is lifted out of the water and the engine If you have to back a long stretch in a straight line, back
is secured. Steadying lines should be secured to the with a hard right rudder until you start to curve to port.
cleats on the outboard side of the boat and brought back Then shift your rudder and gun your engine ahead fast.
on deck to hold the boat steady as it rises. The bow hooks The boat straightens itself in a second, without losing
and stern hooks must fend it off the side. When the boat sternway.
is clear of the water, the engine is secured, and the plugs One of the first pointers you must learn about your
should be removed (so that the bilges will drain before boat is how fast it will backdown. It is next to impossible
the boat reaches the deck). to back a boat in a straight line. You must use your rudder
In operating with davits, the boat attaches to the and, at times, shift your engine to back your boat
sea painter and the steadying lines in the same manner, because of the effect on the screw and rudder.
and must take the same precautions against broaching It is always easier to go alongside port-side-to than
when lifted. The falls are lowered to the boat and the starboard-side-to. See figure 5-9. The reason: When
bow hook hooks the forward Raymond release hook you put your port bow alongside and start to back, the

side force of the backing screw on the stern will walk NORMAL AND HEAVY SEAS
your stern alongside. If you have to go starboard-side-to,
remember that you must come alongside much With normal sea conditions, steering a powerboat is
straighter, because the backing screw will walk your much the same as handling a single-screw ship, although
stern away from the landing. Make a starboard-side-to the reactions of the boat to the engines and rudder are
landing at slow speed, and work your engine and rudder more pronounced. Too much weight forward may cause
to get the boat alongside. the bow of the boat to plunge into the waves.

When tying up to a ship's gangway in a tideway or Some hints on handling powerboats under special
stream, always secure the boat line to the ship side of circumstances are given here as an aid to a boat crew
the bow, and set the rudder a little away from the ship, that, having mastered the elements of its work, is ready
to operate in more complicating situations.
so that the boat will ride clear. Tie up to a deck or landing,
bow-on to the stream whenever possible, so you can set When handling boats in a moderate or a rough sea,
your rudder to hold it off in the same manner as just you must exercise caution, good judgment, and
described. If the wind tends to throw the boat onto the seamanship. Each member of the boat crew must know
landing, use less rudder and speed, and use your fenders and perform all duties well to ensure the safe operation
to keep from chafing the boat against the pilings. Tie up of the boat at all times.
with a bow line leading forward and stern line leading One of the most risky situation arises when a
aft. Never have both lines leading in the same direction. powerboat is running before a sea. When the hull is lifted
In getting underway from a starboard-side-to by the stern, there is danger that steerageway and power
landing, usually it is best to back until the stern has may be lost when the screw and rudder are clear of the
walked itself away from the dock, because a water. The boat may then swing around broadside to the
single-screw boat will back to port. If you have no room seas. The coxswain must rely on skill and training in the
astern, hold the bow by the bow line and go ahead slowly use of the rudder to keep the stern to the mountains of
with a hard right rudder. When your stern is well out, water. It is helpful to reduce speed and to allow large
cast off, back with a hard left rudder, and your stern will swells to roll by. In extreme cases, a drogue or sea
anchor (fig. 5-10) may be used.
walk out without difficulty.
Running into a sea is less hazardous, but not without
danger. Reduced speed lessens the strain on both engine
CAUTION and hull. To this end, the throttle should be adjusted so
that the bow rises with oncoming waves instead of
When you are shoving a boat away from the driving into them. Taking the seas on either port or
pier, the bow and the stern could fall in the starboard bow is sound seamanship, too, because some
water. of the pitch is lessened by this method.
Avoid the trough, except in an emergency. When
moving broadside to waves, turn the wheel
momentarily, so as to take larger wave crests on the
windward bow, and return to the course when conditions

Figure 5-9.–Effect of backing propeller. Figure 5-10.–Sea anchor or drogue.

The coxswain must keep the screw rotating should have a full tank of fuel and fuel oil reservoir. The
sufficiently to maintain steerageway and then keep the bilge should be clean and dry with the boat plug in place.
bow facing the seas at an angle on either the port or Life jackets and safety helmets should be ready nearby
starboard bow. or in the boat so the crew may don them before lowering
A drogue or sea anchor is a cone-shaped canvas bag
about 2 feet wide at the mouth and approximately 4 1/2
feet long. It is towed open-end forward so as to offer BOAT ETIQUETTE
resistance. The towline is made fast to the open end of
a sea anchor, and a tripping line is secured to the pointed
end. The drogue fills with water and tends to slow down LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Explain proper
the forward movement of a boat. The most important etiquette procedures for a member of a small
use of the drogue is in keeping a boat at right angles to boat crew, including saluting, loading and off
a sea. The bow of a small boat can be kept toward the loading passengers.
seas by rigging the drogue line and allowing the
drogue's resistance to the water to hold the boat in Early in this chapter you were told that a ship is often
position to the sea. judged by its boats and their crews. Clean boats and
sharp crews draw favorable comments from superiors.
If the drogue is no longer needed, the towline is An essential element for a smart crew is proper,
slacked and the tripping line is heaved on. This action seamanlike conduct. Following are a few rules of boat
causes the sea anchor to lose its resistance and enables etiquette, established by custom and regulations, to
the crew to haul it aboard. serve as your guide to proper conduct when in boats.
Observe them closely, and insist that others in your boat
When there is no officer, petty officer, or acting
petty officer in a boat lying at a landing, gangway, or
Boats are secured for sea when they are gripped boom, the personnel seated in the boat rise and salute all
down in the chocks, with plugs out and boat covers officers passing near. When an officer, a petty officer,
stoppered down securely. or an acting petty officer is in charge, that person alone
The ready lifeboat, usually a motor whaleboat, is renders the salute.
secured for sea in the davits, and, on some ships, swung Coxswains in charge of boats rise and salute when
out ready for lowering. As a safety measure, wire officers enter or leave their boats unless the safety of the
preventers connected to the davit heads may be attached boat would be imperiled.
to the boat's hoisting eyes, and the preventers must be
When boats with embarked officers or officials in
cast off before lowering. They are equipped with pelican
view pass each other, hand salutes are rendered by the
hooks, which can be tripped to transfer the boat's weight
coxswain and the senior officer embarked. The engine
back to the falls.
of the junior boat is idled during the salute. After the
The lifeboat has its sea painter and steadying lines officer returns the salute, speed is resumed. Coxswains
already rigged, and the manropes from the span are must rise while saluting unless it is dangerous or
coiled down clear for running. To keep it from swinging, impractical to do so.
the lifeboat is gripped against a pair of soft paddings on
When a powerboat salutes another boat in passing,
a heavy spar called a strongback, securely lashed
between the davits. Canvas-covered lines running in a crew members outside the canopy stand at attention
facing the other boat.
V-shape from the strongback around the boat to the deck
are the gripes in this instance. They are brought down If a powerboat is carrying an officer or official for
hard to the deck by means of a turnbuckle, with a pelican whom a gun salute is being fired, the engines are slowed
hook for quick releasing. The strongback is not always and clutches are disengaged on the first gun, and the boat
used. A set of inboard gripes, similar to those outboard, is headed parallel to the saluting ship. During the salute,
is used instead. only the person honored rises and salutes.
At the start of each watch, the Boatswain's Mate of Enlisted personnel who are passengers in the stern
the watch (BMOW) checks the ready lifeboat and sheets of a boat always rise and salute when a
reports the ready lifeboat condition to the OOD. It commissioned officer enters or leaves.

Boat keepers and all other personnel in boats not When a visiting party is alongside, the petty officer
underway and not carrying an officer, a petty officer, or in charge should go aboard and obtain permission before
an acting petty officer in charge, stand and salute when allowing any of the visiting party to leave the boat.
an officer comes alongside, leaves the side, or passes
near them. They should remain standing until the boat DISPLAYING NATIONAL ENSIGN,
passes or reaches the ship's side. PERSONAL FLAGS AND PENNANTS
Personnel working on the ship's side or aboard a LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Describe the
boat do not salute unless ATTENTION is sounded. proper display of the national ensign, personal
Salutes aboard powerboats should be extended to flags and pennants, bow insignia, and flagstaff
foreign military and naval officers. ornaments on small boats.
During morning or evening colors, powerboats This section discusses the proper display of the
should be stopped. The coxswain stands at attention and national ensign and personal flags and pennants from
salutes. All others sit at attention. boats of naval vessels.
No junior should overhaul and pass a senior without
permission. The junior always salutes first, and the
salute is returned by the senior. If doubt exists about the The national ensign is displayed from naval vessels
rank of an officer in a boat, it is better to salute than risk at the following times:
neglecting to salute one entitled to that courtesy.
When in port or at anchorage, the national ensign
Subject to the requirements of the rules for and the union jack are displayed from 0800 until sunset
preventing collisions, junior boats must avoid crowding from the flagstaff and the jackstaff respectively. A ship
or embarrassing senior boats. At landings and that enters port at night, when appropriate, displays the
gangways, juniors should give way to seniors. Juniors national ensign from the gaff at daylight for a time
should show deference to their seniors at all times by sufficient to establish the ship’s nationality; it is
refraining from crossing the bows of their boats or customary for other ships of war to display their national
ignoring their presence. ensigns in return.
Juniors precede seniors into a boat but leave after During daylight, when underway in a foreign
their seniors unless the senior officer in the boat gives port.
orders to the contrary. As a general rule, seats farthest When required to be in full dress.
aft are reserved for senior officers. In personnel boats
and motor whaleboats with no officers embarked, the When going alongside a foreign vessel.
stern sheets usually are reserved for chief petty officers. When an officer or official is embarked on an
Officers seated in boats do not rise in rendering official occasion.
salutes except when a senior enters or leaves the boat. When a flag or general officer, a unit commander,
The position of attention in a boat is sitting erect. a commanding officer, or a chief of staff, in uniform, is
embarked in a boat of his or her command or in one
Enlisted personnel who are passengers in running assigned to him or her for personal use.
boats with officers maintain silence under ordinary
circumstances. At such times as may be prescribed by the senior
officer present afloat (SOPA).
Boats transporting seniors to a landing should be
given first opportunity to land. PERSONAL FLAGS AND PENNANTS
Except when excused by proper authority, boats
should stand clear of shore landings and ship's Personal flags and pennants are displayed from
gangways while waiting, and crews should not leave naval vessels at the following times:
their boats. If a long wait is probable during bad weather An officer in command, or a chief of staff when
or at night, permission may be requested to make fast to acting for that officer, when embarked in a boat of the
a boom and for the crew to come aboard. naval service on official occasions, displays from the

bow the command officer's personal flag or command
pennant or, if not entitled to either, a commission
An officer entitled to the display of a personal
flag or command pennant may display a miniature of
such flag or pennant in the vicinity of the coxwain's
station when embarked on other than official occasions
in a boat of the naval service.


A boat regularly assigned to an officer for personal

use carries insignia on each bow as follows:
For a flag or general officer, the stars as arranged
in his or her flag
For a unit commander not a flag officer, a replica
of the command pennant
For a commanding officer, or a chief of staff not Figure 5-11.–Flagstaff insignia.
a flag officer, an arrow
Staffs for the ensign, and for the personal flag or
pennant in a boat assigned to the personal use of a flag
or general officer, unit commander, chief of staff, or BOAT HAILS
commanding officer, or in which a civil official is
embarked are fitted at the peak with devices (shown in
fig. 5-11) as follows:
procedures for challenging an approaching
A spread eagle for an official or officer whose small boat. List and identify boat hails and
official salute is 19 or more guns. The head of the spread their replies.
eagle must face forward.
A halberd for a flag or general officer whose When a boat approaches a ship, the officer of the
official salute is less than 19 guns or for a civil official deck must know the rank of the senior officer
whose official salute is 11 or more guns but less than embarked so that a proper reception with the
19 guns. The cutting edge of the halberd must face appropriate ceremonies may be extended. During
forward. daylight hours, the officer of the deck (OOD)
A ball for an officer of the grade, or relative questions the boat coxswain to ascertain the rank of
grade, of captain in the Navy or for a career minister, a the senior officer by raising an arm straight up, fist
counselor or first secretary of an embassy or legation, clenched. The coxswain replies by showing fingers
of a consul. equal to the number of side boys the officer rates.
Fleet admirals, admirals, and vice admirals rate eight
A star for an officer of the grade, or relative grade, side boys. Rear Admirals, upper and lower, rate six
of commander in the Navy. The points of the star must side boys. Captains and commanders rate four side
face fore and aft. boys, and all other commissioned officers rate two.
A flat truck for an officer below the grade, or Officers of other services rate the same number of side
relative grade, of commander in the Navy or for a civil boys as their equivalents in rank. If there are no
official not listed above, and for whom honors are passengers in the boat who rate side boys, the
prescribed for an official visit. coxswain gives the OOD a wave off.

At night the OOD hails a boat with “Boat ahoy,” and PERSONNEL BELONGING TO THIS SHIP
the coxswain answers, according to the senior RETURN IMMEDIATELY.
embarked, as indicated in table 5-1.
QUEBEC, while flying, means: ALL BOATS
recall signals for small boats including the If for any reason it is desired to call a particular boat,
Admiral's barge and the Captain's gig. a hoist is flown as follows:
Occasionally it is necessary to recall personnel and QUEBEC, followed by a numeral pennant,
boats by means of a flaghoist. The PAPA flag is the which designates a type of boat, and one or more
general recall when shown in port. It is flown from the additional numeral flags to indicate the number of
foretruck, or where seen best, and means: All the boat.

Table 5-1.–Coxswain Replies According to Senior Embarked


President or Vice President of the United States UNITED STATES
Secretary, Deputy or an Assistant Secretary of DEFENSE
Secretary, Under Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary NAVY
of the Navy
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff JOINT CHIEFS
Chief of Naval Operations or the Vice Chief of Naval NAVAL OPERATIONS
Fleet, Force, or Type Commander (Number) FLEET or abbreviation of administrative
title; e.g., 6TH FLEET, PACFLT
A Chief of Staff/Chief staff Officer STAFF
A Flotilla/Group Commander (Type) FLOT/GRU (Number); e.g., CRUDESGRU
A Squadron Commander (Type) RON (Number); e.g., DESRON TWO
A Division Commander (Type) DIV (Number); e.g., MINEDIV ELEVEN
A Marine Brigade Commander BRIGADE COMMANDER
Commanding Officer of a ship or station (Name of Ship or Station); e.g., NASHVILLE,
A Marine Regimental Commander REGIMENTAL COMMANDER
Any other commissioned Officer AYE, AYE
Warrant Officer NO, NO
Enlisted HELLO
A boat not intending to come alongside, regardless PASSING
of rank of passenger

The calls for the various types of boats follow:
Qp0 All boats
Qp1 Admiral's barge
Qp2 Chief of Staff barge or gig
Qp3 Staff gigs or motorboat
Qp4 Captain's gig
Qp5 Boats under power
Qp6 Boats under sail
Qp7 Boats under oar
Qp8 to Qp50 Reserved for local assignment
by commanding officer

Calls are usually assigned according to boat numbers. Figure 5-12.–QUEBEC over Pennant Four.
An example of a call to own ship's boat is Qp52,
meaning own ship's powerboat number 2. where the anchor chain enters the water or, preferably,
the anchor buoy as point of departure. The coxswain
To call another ship's boat, the ship's call is placed then steers the previously given compass course. By this
under the boat call. For example, Qp4Rp6p2 calls the method the boat should arrive at its destination with little
captain's gig of carrier 62. difficulty if there is no wind or current, if the compass
The general recall for all boats to return to their ships is in good condition, and if no metal objects (such as
is QUEBEC hoisted singly. tools, or a large steel vessel passed en route) cause the
compass to deviate.
Figure 5-12 illustrates the recall signal for the
captain's gig (QUEBEC over PENNANT FOUR). It is necessary for the coxswain to move approxi-
mately 100 yards away from the ship before taking the
compass reading. The reason is to prevent the magnetic
STEERING A BOAT BY COMPASS attraction of the ship's hull from influencing the
operation of the boat's compass.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe how to Trust your compass. At times you may swear
steer a boat by compass. Recognize compass something has gone wrong with it, but that is probably
error and describe how to correct compass error. your imagination, not a faulty compass. It is not a good
practice to try to make your way from ship to ship by
Standard powerboats and landing boats are always listening for the ship's bells.
equipped with a compass. The coxswain uses this
instrument more than any other device in piloting the Sound is deceptive in fog. Sound seem to come from
craft to its destination. everywhere at once. If you should become lost, you may
have to listen for bells to try to find the nearest ship.
Both the magnetic compass and the gyroscopic Never leave your ship without knowing which berth the
compass were explained in Chapter 2 of this book; ship is in. Handle your compass with care so that you
hence, they are not discussed here. The rest of this can rely on it when you need it.
chapter does, however, explain many of the things you
must know about steering a boat by compass. COMPASS ERROR
The coxswain must ensure that the compass light is
installed and operating for night runs. To follow a Two forces make up compass error. They are
compass course, the coxswain leaves the side of the ship, variation and deviation. Earth is a huge magnet. The
swings around to the bow, and uses either the point north magnetic pole of Earth is over a thousand miles

from the geographic North Pole. A magnetic compass Figure 5-13 shows a compass rose indicating that in
points to magnetic north instead of true north because 1968 there was a 26°45' easterly variation in that area
of Earth's magnetic field. The amount the compass is and that it was increasing 11' annually. The total amount
offset from the true pole is called variation. of variation is found by multiplying the number of years
since the year printed in the compass rose by the rate of
Variation differs at various points on Earth's annual change. The result is either added to or subtracted
surface, and at many points it increases or decreases by from the variation given, depending upon whether the
a known annual rate. error is increasing or decreasing. In this instance, total
Variation for any given locality, together with the variation in 1992 would be 24 years x 11' annual
amount of increase or decrease, is shown on the compass increase + 26°45' = 31°09'.
rose of the chart for that particular locality. On Variation remains the same for any heading of a ship
small-scale charts of larger areas, however, variation is or boat at any given locality. No matter which direction
shown by lines (isogonic lines) running through points your boat is heading, the magnetic compass, if affected
with the same amount of variation. by variation alone, points in the direction of the
Along each line or every fifth line (depending upon magnetic pole.
the type of chart used), variation is printed, and rates of Deviation is caused by the magnetic metallic
annual changes are shown between the lines. masses in and on a ship. It is built into a ship and the

Figure 5-13.–Combination compass rose.

ship, in effect, becomes another magnet. We do not Variation— The angular difference between true
intend to give a detailed explanation of how this force north and the direction of Earth's magnetic field.
affects a magnetic compass, but where deviation exists, Variation is marked on charts because it changes from
it must be taken into account. Although it remains a year to year and from place to place.
constant amount for each compass heading, it gradually Compass error— Deviation and variation together
increases, decreases, increases, and decreases again as are known as the compass error.
the ship swings through a complete 360° circle.
True course— The angle between true north and the
Deviation must be considered in correcting path along the ocean floor over which the boat is
compass error, consequently the deviation for any given traveling, measured from true north in a clockwise
heading of a ship must be known. Before the ship puts direction.
to 360°, and the amount of the compass deviation is Magnetic course—The angle, measured clockwise,
noted at every 15° swing. Compass deviation is from the magnetic meridian to the track. Correcting the
calculated by various methods, generally by comparison magnetic course for variation gives the true course.
with the gyrocompass, or by reciprocal bearings on a Compass course— The reading of a particular boat's
compass on the beach, which would be unaffected by compass when the boat is following a definite track.
the metal in the ship. Correcting the compass course for deviation gives the
The results are compiled into a table called the magnetic course.
deviation table (table 5-2). Every 15° is considered close Correcting— The process by which both deviation
enough, and in using the table, you should use the and variation corrections are applied in converting a
deviation for the heading nearest the heading you are compass course to a true course.
checking. In other words, if you look in this table for the
amount of deviation for a 17° heading, you would select
the deviation for 15°, a deviation of 10°W. CORRECTING COMPASS COURSE

When studying the compass, a coxswain should

The course you take from a chart usually is a true
have the following definitions memorized. course. You must convert the true course from a
Deviation— The error caused by the magnetic magnetic compass to a compass course. To do this, you
properties of any metal in the immediate vicinity of the apply the compass error (variation and deviation) to the
compass. Deviation for a particular compass should be true course. Changing a true course to a compass course
shown on the deviation table mounted near the is called UNCORRECTING, and changing a magnetic
instrument. course to a true course is CORRECTING. You can

Table 5-2.–Typical Deviation Table

000° 14°W 120° 15°E 240° 4°E
015° 10°W 135° 16°E 255° 1°W
030° 5°W 150° 12°E 270° 7°W
045° 1°E 165° 13°E 285° 12°W
060° 2°E 180° 14°E 300° 15°W
075° 5°E 195° 14°E 315° 19°W
090° 7°E 210° 12°E 330° 19°W
105° 9°E 225° 9°E 345° 17°W
360° 14°W

remember this easily if you think of something that is C D M V T
TRUE as being CORRECT or already corrected.
Another handy memory aid, CAN DEAD MEN 193° 2°W 191° 7°E° 198°
VOTE TWICE, gives the key to the problem of
changing from one to the other. Each word in our After a little practice, you can work these problems
memory aid represents a word in our problem, as in your head. Because it is compass course or true course
follows: you are interested in, find the algebraic sum of the two
errors. An algebraic sum is obtained by adding the two
errors if they are in the same direction, or subtracting
DEAD DEVIATION the smaller error from the larger error if they are in
MEN MAGNETIC opposite directions. The total error then is added to, or
subtracted from, whichever course is given.
In many boats, deviation is very small or
TWICE TRUE nonexistent; and when this is true, merely apply
Variation and deviation are always given as variation and you have your answer. In some boats,
EASTERLY or WESTERLY errors, and when however, the motor and the other metal objects do cause
CORRECTING (converting from compass to true), deviation. These boats must be swung, deviation tables
ADD easterly errors, and SUBTRACT westerly errors. made out, and the date used when correcting the
When UNCORRECTING (converting from true to compasses.
compass), SUBTRACT easterly errors, and ADD
westerly errors. RULES OF THE ROAD
Suppose the true course, taken from a chart, is 095°;
variation, taken from the same chart, is 2° westerly; and LEARNING OBJECTIVES: List and explain
deviation, taken from the deviation table, is 3° westerly. the basic Rules of the Road. Identify and list
Now work the problem. Put down the things you know sound signals.
as follows:
International Rules of the Road are specific rules for
C D M V T all vessels while on the high seas and in connecting
waters that are navigable by seagoing vessels. The
3°W 2°W° 095° Inland Rules apply to all vessels operating on the inland
waters of the United States, and to vessels of the United
States operating on the Canadian waters of the Great
Do not forget the W (for westerly) or E (for easterly); Lakes (to the extent that there is no conflict with
otherwise you will not know whether to add or subtract Canadian law).
the error. Now, true course was given, and we want to As a Seaman, you will need a basic knowledge of
find compass course. We are uncorrecting; therefore, we the Rules of the Road for boat operation.
add westerly errors and subtract easterly errors. Both
errors are westerly, so we add them both. The International Rules were formalized at the
convention on the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972. These rules are
C D M V T commonly called 72 COLREGS.
100° 3°W 097° 2°W° 095° The Inland Rules discussed in this chapter replace
the old Inland Rules, Western River Rules, Great Lakes
Rules, their respective pilot rules, and parts of the
Compass course is 100°. Motorboat Act of 1940. Many of the old navigation rules
were enacted in the last century. Occasionally,
Let us now set up a problem converting compass
provisions were added to cope with the increasing
course to true course. We have given compass 193°,
complexities of water transportation. Eventually, the
variation 7° easterly, and deviation 2° westerly.
navigation rules for the United States inland waterways
This time we are correcting; therefore, we add became such a confusing patchwork of requirements
easterly and subtract westerly errors. that in the 1960s several unsuccessful attempts were

made to revise and simplify them. Following the signing
of the 72 COLREGS, a new effort was made to unify
and update the various Inland Rules. This effort was also
aimed at making the Inland Rules as similar as possible
to the 72 COLREGS. The Navigation Rules,
International-Inland, COMDTINST M16672.2B now
in effect, is the result.
Inland Rules vary from International Rules
primarily because of the addition of certain extra
precautions. In our discussion of basic rules, each rule
stated is the same for both international and inland
waters unless a distinction was pointed out. When the
term power-driven vessel was mentioned, for example,
it meant in both International and Inland, any vessel
propelled by machinery as distinguished from a sailing
Figure 5-14.–Meeting (head-on) situation.
The basic rules concerning displays of navigational
lights were given in chapter 2.
Crossing Situation
When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as
You must understand the steering and sailing rules to involve risk of collision (fig. 5-15), the vessel having
and be able to apply them to various traffic situations. the other to starboard is the give way vessel and must
Although all Rules of the Road are important, the
steering and sailing rules are the most essential to know avoid the stand on vessel.
to avoid collision. The risk of collision can be A sailing vessel has the right-of-way over
considered to exist if the bearing of an approaching power-driven vessels except when the sailing vessel is
vessel does not appreciably change. overtaking and the power-driven vessel is engaged in
fishing, is not under command, or is restricted in its
NOTE ability to maneuver.

When you are approaching a very large

vessel, or when you are in close quarters, a
bearing change alone does not necessarily mean
that a collision cannot happen.

We will illustrate the three situations in which the

danger of collision might exist: head-on, crossing, and
overtaking. The illustrations and the following summary
will help you learn the rules and appropriate actions to
be taken in each situation.

Meeting (Head-On) Situation

When two ships meet head on, or nearly so (fig.

5-14), each ship must change course to starboard and
pass port to port. In international waters, a whistle signal
is sounded only when a course change is actually made.
If the meeting ships are already far enough off each other
to pass clear on their present courses, no signal is
Figure 5-15.–Crossing situation.

Overtaking Situation Stand-on vessel refers to any power-driven vessel
in a crossing situation close enough to involve risk of
Any vessel overtaking another must keep clear of collision; the vessel having the other to starboard must
the overtaken vessel. An overtaking vessel is one that is keep out of the way, or “stand-on,” not crossing ahead
approaching another vessel from any direction more of the other vessel.
than 22.5° abaft its beam (fig. 5-16). When in doubt, Vessel engaged in fishing means any vessel fishing
assume you are overtaking and act accordingly. with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing apparatus that
restricts maneuverability, but does not include a vessel
GENERAL DEFINITIONS fishing with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus that
does not restrict maneuverability.
Before we continue with our discussion of basic Seaplane includes any aircraft designed to
rules of the road, you must first understand the terms we maneuver on the water.
will use. They are as follows: Vessel not under command means a vessel that,
Vessel includes every description of watercraft, through some exceptional circumstance, is unable to
including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes used, or maneuver as required by these rules and is, therefore,
capable of being used, as a means of transportation on unable to keep out of the way of another vessel.
water. Vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver means a
vessel that, from the nature of its work, is restricted in
Power-driven vessel means any vessel propelled by
its ability to maneuver as required by these rules and is,
machinery. therefore, unable to keep out of the way of another
Sailing vessel means any vessel under sail, provided vessel.
that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used. Vessel constrained by its draft means a power-
Give-way vessel refers to a power-driven vessel driven vessel that, because of its draft in relation to the
underway having another vessel to starboard, thus available depth of water, is severely restricted in its
“giving-way” or allowing the other vessel to pass in an ability to deviate from the course it is following
(International Rules only).
overtaking situation.
Underway means that a vessel is not at anchor, made
fast to the shore, or aground.
Length and breadth of a vessel mean its length
overall, and greatest beam or width.
In sight means vessels are deemed to be in sight of
one another only when one can be seen from the other.
Restricted visibility means any condition in which
visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy
rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes.
Inland waters means the navigable waters of the
United States shoreward of the navigational
demarcation lines dividing the high seas from harbors,
rivers, and other such bodies of waters of the United
States, and the waters of the Great Lakes of the United
States' side of the international boundary.
Demarcation lines means the lines delineating those
waters upon which mariners must comply with the 72
COLREGS and those waters upon which mariners must
comply with the Inland Navigation Rules. (The
boundaries for the demarcation lines are listed in the
back of the Coast Guard publication Navigation Rules,
Figure 5-16.–Overtaking situation.

Whistle means any sound-signaling appliance that Three flashes-I AM OPERATING ASTERN
is capable of producing the prescribed blast and that PROPULSION
complies with the specifications in Annex III of the
The duration of each flash will be is about 1 second;
International and Inland Rules. (When your ship was
built and the whistle was installed, all the specifications the interval between flashes must be about 1 second; and
listed in Annex III were considered.) the interval between successive signals must be not less
than 10 seconds. The light used for this signal will be,
Short blast means a blast about l-second long.
if fitted, an all-around white light visible at a minimum
Prolonged blast means a blast from 4-seconds to range of 5 miles, and must comply with the provisions
6-seconds duration. of Annex I that pertain to the International Rules.
Meeting (or head-on) situation defines a situation When in sight of another in a narrow channel or
in which, by day, the masts of each vessel, when viewed
from the other, are in a line. fairway, and action is required by the vessel being
overtaken, the vessel intending to overtake another must
Crossing situation defines the situation where each indicate its intention by the following signals on the
vessel has the other any place forward of 22.5° abaft of
either beam.
Two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast— I
Overtaking situation describes the situation where
one vessel approaches the other from anyplace more INTEND TO OVERTAKE YOU ON YOUR
than 22.5° abaft of either beam. STARBOARD SIDE
Two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts— I
Since there are major differences between the The vessel about to be overtaken will indicate
International and the Inland maneuvering and warning agreement by the following signal on the whistle:
signals, they will be presented separately, and the
differences will be noted on the inland version. One prolonged, one short, one prolonged, and one
short blast, in that order
International When vessels in sight of one another are
approaching each other and either vessel fails to
understand the intentions or actions of the other, or is in
When vessels are in sight of one another, a
power-driven vessel underway, when maneuvering as doubt whether sufficient action is being taken by the
authorized or required by these rules, must indicate that other to avoid collision, the vessel in doubt must
maneuver by the following signals on the whistle: immediately indicate such doubt by giving at least five
One short blast— I AM ALTERING MY COURSE short, rapid blasts on the whistle. Such signal may be
TO STARBOARD supplemented by a light signal of at least five short, rapid
Two short blasts— I AM ALTERING MY COURSE
TO PORT A vessel nearing a bend or an area of a channel or
fairway where other vessels may be obscured by an
Three short blasts— I AM OPERATING ASTERN
PROPULSION intervening obstruction must sound one prolonged blast.
Such signal must be answered with a prolonged blast by
Any vessel may supplement the whistle signals any approaching vessel that may be within hearing
prescribed above by light signals, repeated as
appropriate while the maneuver is being carried out. around the bend or behind the intervening obstruction.
These light signals will have the following significance: If whistles are fitted farther apart than 100 meters
One flash— I AM ALTERING MY COURSE TO on a vessel, only one of the whistles will be used for
STARBOARD giving maneuvering and warning signals.
Two flashes— I AM ALTERING MY COURSE TO These last three paragraphs apply to Inland Rules as
PORT well as International Rules.

Inland must comply with the provisions of Annex I to the Inland
When power-driven vessels are in sight of one
another and meeting or crossing at a distance within half
a mile of each other, each vessel underway, when NOTE
maneuvering as authorized or required by the Inland The Inland Rules do not specify an interval
Rules, must indicate that maneuver by the following between flashes or an interval between
signals on the whistle: successive signals.
one short blast to mean I INTEND TO LEAVE YOU
The International Rules do not allow a
yellow light to be used for light signals.
two short blasts to mean I INTEND TO LEAVE
YOU ON MY STARBOARD SIDE The minimum visible range for light is 2
miles for Inland Rules and 5 miles for
three short blasts to mean I AM OPERATING International Rules.
The Inland Rules require that light signals
and sound signals be given at the same time
When in sight of another, a power-driven vessel
The International Rules do not specify a intending to overtake another power-driven vessel must
distance for sounding signals. indicate its intention by the following signals on the
whistle: one short blast to mean I INTEND TO
The International Rules read I AM, and the OVERTAKE YOU ON YOUR STARBOARD SIDE;
Inland Rules read I INTEND TO. and two short blasts to mean I INTEND TO
The one- and two-short-blast signals in the Inland OVERTAKE YOU ON YOUR PORT SIDE.
Rules signify an intention of passage with one other
vessel. NOTE
Upon hearing the one- or two-blast signal of the The Inland Rules require signals for
other, the vessel must, if in agreement, sound the same overtaking vessels when in sight of another
whistle signal and take the steps necessary to effect a in a narrow channel or fairway.
safe passing. If, however, the vessel doubts the safety of
the proposed maneuver, the vessel must sound the The International Rules require two
danger signal of at least five short, rapid blasts of the prolonged blasts preceding the short blast
whistle. Each vessel will then take appropriate required by the Inland Rules.
precautionary action until a safe passing agreement is
made. In both International and Inland Rules,
overtaking signals are signals of intention
A vessel may supplement those signals with light only and must be answered by the vessel that
signals. is being overtaken.
Light signals must have the following significance: The power-driven vessel about to be overtaken will,
one flash to mean I INTEND TO LEAVE YOU ON if in agreement, sound a similar sound signal. If in doubt,
MY PORT SIDE the vessel must sound the danger signal of at least five
short, rapid blasts.
two flashes to mean I INTEND TO LEAVE YOU
three flashes to mean I AM OPERATING ASTERN
The Inland Rules require the vessel being
The duration of each flash must be about 1 second, overtaken, if it agrees, to answer with a signal
and the light used for this signal, if fitted, must be one similar to the one sounded by the overtaking
all-around white or yellow light visible at a minimum vessel. The International Rules require the
range of 2 miles, synchronized with the whistle, and vessel being overtaken, if it agrees, to sound one

prolonged, one short, one prolonged, and one rules prescribe three types of devices: a whistle (for
short blast, in that order. The Inland Rules for vessels underway), and a bell and a gong (for vessels
overtaking vessels apply only to power-driven anchored or aground). A whistle requires either a
vessels; the International Rules apply to all prolonged blast of 4-6 seconds or one short blast. A bell
vessels. requires a 5-second rapid ringing. And a gong requires
a 5-second rapid sounding. International Rules require
A vessel that reaches agreement with another vessel a 2-minute interval between warning signals.
in a meeting, crossing, or overtaking situation by using
the radiotelephone, as prescribed by the The fog signals for inland and international waters
Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephone Act (85 Stat. 165; 33 (COLREGs) are very similar but there are two
U.S.C. 1207), is not obligated to sound the whistle exceptions. First, the Inland Rules do not provide for a
signals prescribed by this rule, but may do so. If vessel constrained by draft; and second, they do not
agreement is not reached, then whistle signals must be require small vessels in specifically designated
exchanged in a timely manner and will prevail. anchorages to sound fog signals.
RESTRICTED VISIBILITY Small boats, as well as larger vessels, are required
to signal. A boat coxswain must have a foghorn in the
Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility, Rule boat at all times. Motorboats must be outfitted with an
20C, of both Inland and International Rules states that efficient whistle, horn, or other sound-producing device.
the lights prescribed by the rules are to be exhibited in
It should be noted that because a boat is exempt
restricted visibility. Rule 35 of both Inland and
International Rules states that the required sound signals from some specific requirement of the rules, it is not
are to be sounded in or near an area of restricted excused from complying with the rules in all other
visibility. Inland and International Rule 19 applies to respects.
vessels not in sight of one another when navigating in
or near an area of restricted visibility. Sound Signals

Fog Signals The sound signals in restricted visibility for the

International and Inland Rules are very similar. In this
Before radar, the regulations depended almost part of the text, only the Inland Rules will be presented.
solely on the fog signal; vessels in fog sounded fog Any differences between the International and Inland
signals and when other vessels heard them, they
Rules will be noted.
stopped. The increasing use of radar today has resulted
in a supplementation to the existing regulations. In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by
In 1960, a radar annex was appended to the day or night, the signals prescribed in this rule will be
International Rules; it was ultimately incorporated in used as follows:
1972. A power-driven vessel making way through the
In 1980, the word fog was discarded and replaced water must sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes
by the term restricted visibility. The International Rules one prolonged blast.
today make it clear that vessels must maintain a proper A power-driven vessel underway, but stopped and
lookout. making no way through the water, will sound at intervals
The rules make it obvious that radar is NOT a of not more than 2 minutes two prolonged blasts in
substitute for a proper lookout. The courts have ruled succession with an interval of about 2 seconds between
that dependable radar equipment must be turned on and them.
intelligent use made of it.
A vessel not under command; a vessel restricted in
Rule 19E requires a vessel hearing a fog signal of ability to maneuver, whether underway or at anchor; a
another vessel to reduce its speed, to bare steerageway, sailing vessel; a vessel engaged in fishing, whether
and to proceed with caution. underway or at anchor; and a vessel engaged in towing
No defined distance has been established regarding or pushing another vessel will sound at intervals of not
visibility for sounding fog signals. Three miles has been more than 2 minutes, three blasts in succession; namely,
recommended for all vessels over 50 meters long. The one prolonged followed by two short blasts.

NOTE The required sound signals for these
situations are the same as those addressed for
In the Inland Rules, no provisions are made the same situation in the Inland.
for a vessel constrained by its draft.
A vessel towed (or if more than one vessel is towed,
The International Rules address vessels the last vessel of the tow), if it is manned will, at
engaged in fishing while at anchor and intervals of not more than 2 minutes, sound four blasts
vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver in succession; namely, one prolonged blast followed by
when carrying out work at anchor separately. three short blasts. When practical, this signal must be

Figure 5-17.–International/inland distress signals.

made immediately after the signal made by the towing NOTE
The following paragraph from the
When a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed International Rules is not included in the Inland
ahead are rigidly connected in a composite unit, they Rules:
will be regarded as a power-driven vessel and give the
signals prescribed earlier for a power-driven vessel “Any light to attract the attention of another
making way through the water or a vessel underway but vessel will be such that it cannot be mistaken
stopped and making no way through the water. for any aid to navigation. For that reason, the
A vessel at anchor must, at intervals of not more than use of high-intensity intermittent or revolving
1 minute, ring the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds. In a lights, such as strobe lights, must be avoided”.
vessel of 100 meters or more in length, the bell must be There is no basis in the Rules of the Road for the
sounded in the forepart of the vessel; and immediately popular notion that the national ensign hoisted upside
after the ringing of the bell, the gong must be sounded down is a recognized signal of distress. No man-of-war
rapidly for about 5 seconds in the afterpart of the vessel. would ever subject the colors to this indignity. But if you
A vessel at anchor may, in addition, sound three blasts should see a private craft with the ensign hoisted upside
in succession; namely, one short, one prolonged, and down, it is probably in distress. See figure 5-17 for
one short blast to give warning of its position and of the distress signals under the International and Inland Rules.
possibility of collision to an approaching vessel. The signals in figure 5-17 may be used or exhibited
either together or separately, to indicate distress and
In addition to giving the bell signal and, if required,
need of assistance.
the gong signal prescribed above, a vessel aground must
give three separate and distinct strokes on the bell
immediately before and after the rapid ringing of the NOTE
bell. A vessel aground may, in addition, sound an
There is no provision in the International
appropriate whistle signal.
Rules for the distress signal shown in figure
A vessel of less than 12 meters in length is not 5-18.
obliged to give the above-mentioned signals but, if it
does not, the vessel will make some other efficient sound
signal at intervals of not more than 2 minutes.
A pilot vessel, when engaged on pilotage duty, may,
in addition to the signals prescribed for a power-driven
vessel underway making way through the water;
underway but stopped and not making way through the
water; or at anchor; sound an identity signal consisting
of four short blasts.


The International and Inland Rules on signals to

attract attention are almost identical. They are as

If necessary to attract the attention of

another vessel, any vessel may make light or
sound signals that cannot be mistaken for any
signal authorized elsewhere in these rules, or
may direct the beam of its searchlight in the
direction of the danger in such a way as not to Figure 5-18.–A high-intensity white light flashing at regular
embarrass any vessel. intervals from 50 to 70 times per minute.

The International and Inland Rules contain signal, and radio beacon service. The LANBY is an all
the following supplemental information: steel disk-shaped hull 40 feet in diameter. The light,
sound signal, and radio beacon are located on the mast.
Except for indicating distress and need of Although buoys are valuable aids to navigation,
assistance, the use or exhibition of any of the they must never be depended upon exclusively. Buoys
foregoing distress signals and the use of other frequently drag their moorings in heavy weather, or they
signals that may be confused with any of the may be set adrift when run down by passing vessels.
those signals is prohibited. Lights on lighted buoys may go out of commission.
Whistles, bells, and gongs actuated by the sea's motions
Note the relevant sections of the International Code may fail to function in smooth water.
of Signals, Pub. 102, the Merchant Ship Search and
Rescue Manual, and the following signals:
A piece of orange-colored canvas with either a
black square and circle or other appropriate symbol (for
identification from the air) (fig. 5-17), or To reach agreement with all maritime countries to
bring all buoyage into one system with the least amount
a dye marker (fig. 5-17). of money and time expended, two international buoyage
regions were established. Figure 5-19 outlines
The following signals, although not part of the
International Buoyage Regions A and B. Navigational
Rules of the Road, are prescribed for submerged
charts produced and/or printed after 1983 indicate the
submarines in emergency situations involving rising to
buoyage region to which the chart refers.
periscope depth or surfacing:
A white or yellow smoke flare fired into the air MARITIME BUOYAGE SYSTEM
from a submarine indicates the submarine is coming to
periscope depth to carry out surfacing procedures. Ships
should clear the immediate vicinity but should not stop Until recently, as many as 30 different buoyage
propellers. systems were in use around the world. In 1982, most of
the maritime nations of the world signed an agreement
A red smoke flare fired into the air from a sponsored by the International Association of
submarine is a signal that the submarine is in serious Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). This agreement
trouble and will surface immediately if possible. Smoke adopted a system known as the IALA Maritime
flares of any color, fired into the air at short intervals, Buoyage System. The system provides rules that apply
mean the submarine requires assistance. All ships in the to all fixed and floating marks other than lighthouses,
area should clear the immediate vicinity but stand by to sector lights, range lights, lightships, and large
give aid. automatic navigational buoys (LANBYs).
The Maritime Buoyage System provides five types
BUOYS of marks that may be used in any combination. The five
types of marks are lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, safe
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define buoys. water, and special. Each type of mark will be discussed
Recognize the International Buoyage Regions. briefly here and in more detail later.
Describe the IALA Maritime Buoyage System
1. Lateral marks–indicate the port and starboard
including buoy types, buoy colors, and buoy
hand sides of channels. Within the Maritime Buoyage
System there are two international buoyage regions
where lateral marks differ. These buoyage regions and
Buoys are moored floating markers placed so as to
the different lateral marks will be discussed in detail
guide ships in and out of channels, warn them away from
later in this chapter.
hidden dangers, and lead them to anchorage areas, and
so forth. Buoys may be of various sizes and shapes. 2. Cardinal marks–used in conjunction with the
Regardless of their shapes, however, their distinctive compass, indicate that the navigable water lies to the
coloring is the chief indication of their purposes. named side of the mark
Large automatic navigational buoys (LANBYs) are 3. Isolated danger marks–erected on, or moored
major aids to navigation, and they provide light, sound directly on or over, dangers of limited size.

Figure 5-19.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System, Buoyage Regions A and B.

4. Safe water marks–used to indicate that there is

water safe for navigation all around the position
(examples: midchannel and fairways).
5. Special marks–call attention to an area or
specific feature. Explanation of special marks may be
found on the navigational chart you are using, in Sailing
Directions, or in Coast Pilots.

Distinguishing Marks

The meaning of the mark depends upon one or more

of the following features:
1. By day–color, shape, and topmark
2. By night–light color and phase characteristics
COLOR.— The colors used for lateral marks in Figure 5-20.–Basic buoy shapes.
Region A are red, green, green with one red horizontal
band, and red with one green horizontal band.
The colors used for lateral marks in Region B are but has a tall, central structure on a broad base. Lighted
green, red, red with one green horizontal band, and buoys in the United States are referred to as pillar buoys.
green with one red horizontal band. TOPMARKS.— The IALA Maritime Buoyage
SHAPE.— There are five basic buoy shapes (fig. System makes use of can, nun, spherical, and X-shaped
5-20): can, nun, spherical, pillar, and spar. With the topmarks only. Topmarks on pillar and spar buoys are
exception of pillar and spar buoys, the shape of the buoy particularly important to indicate the side on which they
indicates the correct side on which to pass. Can buoys will be passed and will be used wherever practical.
may sometimes be referred to as cylindrical, and nun
buoys referred to as conical. The term pillar is used to LIGHTS.— Where marks are lighted, red and green
describe any buoy that is smaller than a lighthouse buoy lights are reserved for port and starboard or starboard

and port lateral marks. Yellow lights are for special
marks, and white lights are used for other types of
marks, which will be discussed later in this chapter.
fitted, may have any of the following phase
characteristics (or frequency of duration): quick
flashing, flashing, long flashing, or group flashing.

Lateral Marks

Lateral marks are generally used for well-defined

channels. They indicate the route to be followed and are
used in conjunction with a “conventional direction of
buoyage.” This direction is defined in one of two ways:
Local direction of buoyage—the direction taken
by the mariner when approaching a harbor, river estuary,
or other waterway from seaward.
General direction of buoyage—in other areas, a
direction determined by the buoyage authorities,
following a clockwise direction around continental
landmasses, given in Sailing Directions, and, if
necessary, indicated on charts by a symbol.
The numbering or lettering of buoys is an optional C69.214
feature. In the United States, fairway and channel buoys Figure 5-21.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System, International
are always numbered odd to port and even to starboard, Buoyage Region A port-hand marks (buoys).
approaching from seaward. Table 5-3 shows the aids Topmark (when required): Single green cone,
used by the United States.
point upward
REGION A.— As shown in figure 5-19, Inter-
national Buoyage Region A covers Europe and Asia Light (when fitted):
with the exception of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Color: Green
the Republic of the Philippines. The major rule to
Phase Characteristics: Any other than Composite
remember in this region is red to port when returning
from seaward. The lateral marks (buoys) used in Region Group Flashing (2 + 1)
A are as follows: When the ship is proceeding in the conventional
Port-hand marks (fig. 5-21) direction of buoyage, a preferred channel may be
indicated by a modified port or starboard lateral mark at
Color: Red
the point where a channel divides.
Shape (buoys): Can, pillar, or spar
Preferred channel to port (fig. 5-23)
Topmark (when required): Single red can
Color: Green with one broad red horizontal band
Light (when fitted):
Shape (buoys): Nun, pillar, or spar
Color: Red
Topmark (when required): Single green cone,
Phase Characteristics: Any other than Composite point upward
Group Flashing (2 + 1) Light (when fitted):
Starboard-hand marks (fig. 5-22) Color: Green
Color: Green Phase Characteristics: Composite Group Flashing
Shape (buoys): Nun, pillar, or spar (2 + 1)

Figure 5-24.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System, International
C69.215 Buoyage Region A preferred channel to starboard.
Figure 5-22.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System, International
Buoyage Region A starboard-hand marks (buoys).

Preferred channel to starboard (fig. 5-24)

Color: Red with one broad green horizontal band
Shape (buoys): Can, pillar, or spar
Topmark (when required): Single red can
Light (when fitted):
Color: Red
Characteristics: Composite Group Flashing
(2 + 1)
REGION B.— Basically, Region B (refer to fig. 5-19)
covers the Western Hemisphere, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, and the Philippines. The main rule to remember
in this region is red right returning from seaward The
lateral marks (buoys) used in Region B are as follows:
Port-hand marks (fig. 5-25)
Color: Green
Shape (buoys): Can, pillar, or spar
Topmark (when required): Single green can
Light (when fitted):
C69.216 Color: Green
Figure 5-23.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System, International Phase Characteristics: Any other than Composite
Buoyage Region A preferred channel to port. Group Flashing (2 + 1)

Table 5-3.–Markings from the IALA Maritime Buoyage Systems incorporated into the U.S. Aids to

Starboard-hand Lateral Aids:

Color: Red
Shape: Nun or Lighted
Light (when fitted): Red
Rhythm: Any, other than Comp Gp Fl (2+ 1)
Changes: Lights-from white or red to red only
Port-hand Lateral aids:
Color: Green
Shape: Can or Lighted
Light (when fitted): Green
Changes: Color-From black to green
Lights-From white or green to green only
Preferred Channel to Starboard:
Color: Horizontally banded green over red over green
Shape: Can or Lighted
Light (when fitted): Green
Rhythm: Comp Gp Fl (2+1)
Changes: Color-From black to green
Lights-From white or green to green only
Light rhythm-From I Qk Fl to Comp Fl (2+1)
Preferred Channel to Port:
Color: Horizontally banded red over green over red
Shape: Nun or lighted
Light (when fitted): Red
Rhythm: Comp Gp Fl (2+1)
Changes: Color-From black yo green
Lights-From white or red to red only
Light rhythm-From I Qk Fl to Comp Gp Fl (2+1)
Safe Water:
Color: Vertically striped red-and-white
Shape: Spherical or lighted (if lighted, red topmark)
Topmark (when required): Single red sphere
Light (when fitted): White
Rhythm: Morse A
Changes: Color-From black-and-white to red-and-white
Shape-Nonspherical buoys will have topmark
Nun and can buoys will not
Special Purpose:
Color: Yellow
Shape: Optional, but not conflicting with navigational mark
Light (when fitted): Yellow
Rhythm: Any, other than Qk Fl, Gp Qk Fl, Gp Qk & L Fl,
V Qk Fl, Gp V Qk Fl, Gp V Qk Fl & L FL, Gp Fl (2)
Iso, Occ, L Fl, MO (A), or MO (U)
Changes: Color-From various color combinations to yellow
All special-purpose aids will be yellow and, when lighted, will use yellow lights
Information and Regulatory Markers: No Change

C69.218 C69.219
Figure 5-25.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System, International Figure 5-26.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System, International
Buoyage Region B port-hand marks (buoys). Buoyage Region B starboard-hand marks (buoys).

Starboard-hand marks (fig. 5-26)

Color: Red
Shape (buoys): Nun, pillar, or spar
Topmark (when required): Single red cone, point
Light (when fitted):
Color: Red
Phase Characteristics: Any other than Composite
Group Flashing (2 + 1)
Preferred channel to port (fig. 5-27)
Color: Red with one broad green horizontal band
Shape (buoys): Nun, pillar, or spar
Topmark (when required): Single red cone, point
Light (when fitted):
Color: Red
Phase Characteristics: Composite Group Flashing Figure 5-27.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System, International
(2 + 1) Buoyage Region B preferred channel to port.

Preferred channel to starboard (fig. 5-28) takes its name from the compass point in which it is
Color: Green with one broad red horizontal band placed. Figure 5-29 shows the IALA Maritime Buoyage
System cardinal marks (buoys).
Shape (buoys): Can, pillar, or spar
Mariners are safe if they pass north of a north mark,
Topmark (when required): Single green can east of an east mark south of a south mark and west of
Light (when fitted): a west mark. Acardinal mark may be used to accomplish
the following:
Color: Green
Phase Characteristics: Composite Group Flashing Indicate that the deepest water is an area on the
named side of the mark
(2 + 1)
Indicate the safe side on which to pass a danger
NOTE Draw attention to a feature in a channel, such as
a bend, junction, branch, or end of a shoal
In buoyage Regions A and B, if marks at the
sides of a channel are numbered or lettered, the TOPMARK.— By day, topmarks are the most
numbering or lettering will follow the important features of cardinal marks. The arrangement
conventional direction of buoyage. of the cones must be memorized. For north, the point of
each cone is up. For south, the point of each cone is
Cardinal Marks down. An aid to help you memorize the west topmark is
its resemblance to a wine glass. Cardinal marks carry
Cardinal marks are used in conjunction with the topmarks, whenever practical, with the cones as large as
compass to indicate the best navigable water. A cardinal possible and clearly separated.
mark is placed in one of the four quadrants (north, east, COLOR.— Black and yellow horizontal bands are
south, or west) from the best water. A cardinal mark
used to color cardinal marks. The position of the black
topmarks. The black and yellow horizontal bands are
used as follows:
North—Black band above yellow band
South—Black band below yellow band
West—Black band with yellow bands above and
East-Black band above and below yellow band
The shape of a cardinal mark is not important, but
in the case of a buoy, it will be pillar or spar.
cardinal mark exhibits a white light. The characteristics
are based on a group of quick (Qk) or very quick (Vqk)
flashes that distinguish the light as a cardinal mark and
indicate its quadrant. The distinguishing quick or very
quick flashes are as follows:
North—Very quick flashing (Vqk) or quick flashing
East—Very quick flashing every 5 seconds (Vqk [3]
5s) or quick flashing every 10 seconds (Qk [3] 10s)
Figure 5-28.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System, International South—Very quick flashing followed by a long flash
Buoyage Region B preferred channel to starboard. every 10 seconds (Vqk FL [6] + LF1 10s) or quick

Figure 5-29.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System cardinal marks.

flashing followed by a long flash every 15 seconds (Qk ensure that its six flashes cannot be mistaken for
[6] + LF1 15s) three or nine.
West–Very quick flashing every 10 seconds (Vqk Quick flashing lights flash at the rate of either 60
[9] 10s) or quick flashing every 15 seconds (Qk [9] or 50 flashes per minute. Very quick flashing lights
15s) flash at the rate of either 120 or 100 flashes per
minute. It is necessary to have a choice of quick
As a memory aid, associate the number of flashes
flashing or very quick flashing lights to avoid
in each group with a clock face (3 o'clock–east, 6
confusion. Two north buoys that are placed near
o'clock–south, and 9 o'clock–west). enough to each other to be mistaken is one example
The long flash immediately following the where the quick flashing and very quick flashing
group of flashes of a south cardinal mark is to lights would be needed.

Isolated Danger Marks mark may be used as a centerline, midchannel, or
landfall buoy.
Isolated danger marks (fig. 5-30) are erected on, or Red and white vertical stripes are used for safe water
moored above, an isolated danger of limited extent. The marks. The vertical stripes are used to distinguish them
isolated danger mark has navigable water all around it. from the black-banded danger marks. Spherical, pillar,
The extent of the surrounding navigable water is not or spar buoys may be used as safe water marks.
important. The isolated danger mark, for example, Whenever practical, a pillar or spar buoy used as a safe
indicates either a shoal that is well offshore or an islet water mark will carry a single red sphere topmark.
separated by a narrow channel from the coast.
When lighted, a safe water mark exhibits a white
light. The phase characteristics of the light will be
important feature of an isolated danger mark. Whenever occulting, equal interval (isophase), one long flash
practical, this topmark will be carried with the spheres as every 10 seconds, or Morse A. The association of a
large as possible, mounted vertically, and clearly separated. single flash and a single sphere in the topmark may help
Black, with one or more red horizontal bands, is to remember these characteristics.
used for isolated danger marks. The shape of an isolated
danger mark is not significant, but, in the case of a buoy, Special Marks
it will be a pillar or spar.
When lighted, a white flashing light showing a Special marks (fig. 5-32) may be used to indicate a
group of two flashes (F1 [2]) is used to denote an special area or feature. The nature of the special area or
isolated danger mark. The association of two flashes and feature may be found by consulting the navigational
two spheres in the topmark may be a help in chart being used.
remembering these characteristics.
Notice to Mariners. The uses of a special mark
include the following:
Safe Water Marks
Ocean Data Acquisition System (ODAS), buoys
Safe water marks (fig. 5-31) are used to indicate that carrying oceanographic or meteorological sensors
there is navigable water all around the mark. Such a
Traffic separation marks
Spoil ground marks
Military exercise zone marks
Cable or pipeline marks, including outfall pipes
Recreation zone marks
Another function of a special mark is to define a
channel within a channel (for example, a channel for
C69.223 deep-draft vessels in a wide approach area where the
Figure 5-30.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System isolated danger limits of the channel for normal navigation are marked
marks. by red and green lateral buoys).

Figure 5-31.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System safe water marks.

Figure 5-32.— IALA Maritime Buoyage System special marks.

Yellow is the color used for special marks. The yellow, the distinctive coloring adopted for this
shape of a special mark is optional, but it must not waterway. Somewhere on a lighted buoy is a band or a
conflict with a lateral or a safe water mark. For example, border of yellow.
an outfall buoy on the port-hand side of a channel could Red buoys and daymarks are to the right, green to
be can shaped but not conical. the left, as you proceed from the Chesapeake Bay
When a topmark is carried, it takes the form of a toward Mexico. As in other channels, red buoys have
single yellow X. When a light is exhibited, it is yellow. even numbers; green buoys, odd numbers. Because the
The phase characteristics may be any, other than those numbers would increase excessively in such a long line
used for the white lights of cardinal, isolated danger, and of buoys, they are numbered in groups that usually
safe water marks. contain no more than 200 buoys. At certain natural
dividing points, numbering begins again at 1.
Daymarks Lights on buoys in the Intracoastal Waterway follow
the standard system of red lights on red buoys and green
Unlighted aids to navigation (except unlighted lights on green buoys. Lights on other lighted aids agree
buoys) are called daymarks (fig. 5-33). A daymark may with the standard rules for lights on aids to navigation.
consist of a single piling with a mark on top, a spar
supporting a cask, a slate or masonry tower, or any of Ranges
several structures.
Daymarks, like lighthouses, are usually colored to Two day beacons, located some distance apart on a
distinguish them from their surroundings and make specific true bearing, constitute a day beacon range.
them easy to identify. Daymarks marking channels are When a ship reaches a position where the two lights (or
colored and numbered like channel buoys. Many are beacons) are seen exactly in line, it is “on the range.”
fitted with reflectors that show the same colors that a Ranges are especially valuable for guiding ships along
lighted buoy would show at night in the same position. the approaches to or through narrow channels. Much of
the steering through the Panama Canal is accomplished
Intracoastal Waterway on ranges. Other examples of successive straight
reaches marked by ranges are the channel entrances to
the St. Johns River (on the Atlantic coast) and the
The Intracoastal Waterway, called the inland
Columbia River (on the Pacific coast).
waterway, is a channel in which a light-draft vessel can
navigate coastwise from the Chesapeake Bay almost to Lights on ranges may show any of the four standard
the Mexican border, remaining inside the natural or colors, and they may be fixed, flashing, or occulting.
artificial breakwaters for almost the entire length of the Most range lights appear to lose intensity rapidly as a
trip. ship diverges from the range line of bearing.
Every buoy, daymark, or light structure along the When steering on a range, it is highly important that
Intracoastal Waterway has part of its surface painted you ascertain the limit beyond which the range line of

bearing cannot be followed safely. This information is
available on the navigation chart being used.

Fog Signals
STARBOARD HAND PORT HAND Most lighthouses and LANBYS are equipped with
fog-signaling apparatus, ordinarily sounded
automatically by mechanical and electrical means. For
identification purposes, each station has its own
assigned number of blasts, recurring at specified
intervals. A definite time is required for each station to
REGION B REGION B sound its entire series of blasts; this timing provides
STARBOARD HAND PORT HAND another means of identification.
The various types of apparatus produce
corresponding variance of pitch and tone, thus giving
your ear a chance to compare the sound of a station with
its description in the Light Lists, published by the U.S.
Coast Guard. A thorough knowledge of the lights and
REGION A REGION A buoyage system is important because you will be, at one
PREFERRED CHANNEL PREFERRED CHANNEL time or another, assigned to lookout duties as a bridge
watchstander, or as a boat crew where knowledge of the
buoy system is used extensively.

The knowledge and experience you acquire as a
STARBOARD PORT Seaman today will help you to do whatever job you are
assigned to the utmost of your ability in the future.
As a Seaman you may he assigned to any of the
numerous vessels of the U.S. fleet. Aboard most ships,
your job will most likely be different from the job you
left. With “hands-on” training indoctrination, you
should be performing your assigned duties as well as
any other Seaman.
SAFE WATER SPECIAL MARK This chapter has covered many knowledge factors
relating to boat handling, including a basic knowledge
C69.226 of the Rules of the Road and the buoy system. You can
Figure 5-33.–IALA Maritime Buoyage System lateral
daymarks. be assured that your time at sea will be challenging and


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