IALA IALA Region A
Lateral Marks — Channel edge limits
Port Hand Mark
Port Mark
ColorRed
ShapeCylinder
Light Red
Port when entering
Starboard Mark
Starboard Mark
ColorGreen
ShapeConical
Light Green
Starboard when entering
Cardinal Marks — Indicates which side of danger to pass
North
N Cardinal
ColorBlack/Yellow
Topmark2 ▲▲
Light VQ / Q
Pass north of
South
S Cardinal
ColorYellow/Black
Topmark2 ▼▼
Light VQ(6)+LFl
Pass from south
East
E Cardinal
ColorBlack/Yellow/Black
Topmark2 ◇
Light VQ(3) / Q(3)
Pass from east
West
W Cardinal
ColorYellow/Black/Yellow
Topmark2 ⌛
Light VQ(9) / Q(9)
Pass to the west
Other Marks
Isolated Danger
Isolated Danger
ColorBlack+Red
Topmark2 balls
Light Fl(2)
Danger above
Safe Water Mark
Safe Water Mark
ColorRed/White vertical
Topmark1 sphere
Light Iso / LFl
Safe channel
Special Mark
Special Mark
ColorYellow
TopmarkYellow X
Light Fl.Y
Private area / cable
Light Code Abbreviations
F
Continuous
Fl
Flash
LFl
Long Flash
Q
Quick flashing
VQ
Very Quick
Iso
Equal intervals
Oc
Occulting
Fl(n)
Group flash, n times
+LFl
Flashes + long flash
.Y
Yellow color addition