Buoyage IALA System A
The buoyage system used in Victorian ports and around the coast is known as the IALA System A, which is a system of different types of navigational markers.
Although called a buoyage system, markers may be buoys, piles or beacons. To navigate safely, you need to know each marker and its meaning as each has its own colour, shape, top mark and light combination.
IALA System A light rhythm types
| RHYTHM | DESCRIPTION | NAVIGATION CHART ABBREVIATION |
| Fixed | A light showing continuously and steadily | F |
| Flash | Duration of light shorter than duration of darkness | FL |
| Occulting | Duration of light longer than duration of darkness | Oc |
| Isophase | Duration of light and darkness are equal | Iso |
| Quick flash | A flash rate of 50 to 80 flashes per minute | Q |
| Very quick flash | A flash rate of 80 to 160 flashes per minute | VQ |
| Long flash | A flash of not less than two seconds | LFI |
| Group flash | A group of two or more flashes (with the number indicating the number of flashes in a group) | FL(2) or VQ(9) |
| Morse A | A light flashing Morse code signal A (dot, dash) | Mo (A) |
Note:
When the light exhibited is not white, the colour is indicated in the chart abbreviation by Y (yellow), R (red) or G (green), for example, Fl.(4)Y
The period of a light (time between the start of successive sequences) is indicated in seconds by the letters, for example, Fl.R.5s means a single red flash every five seconds.
Direction of buoyage
In order to navigate safely it is essential to know the direction of buoyage. On Victorian coastal waters, buoyage runs east to west through Bass Strait and from seaward inwards to ports, harbours, rivers, estuaries and other waterways. When leaving a port, harbour, river, estuary or other waterway the port-hand mark (red) should be passed on the vessel’s starboard (right) side.
Upon entering a port, harbour, river, estuary or other waterway the port- hand mark (red) should be passed on the vessel’s port (left) side.
As Western Port has two entrances, boundaries are laid down to indicate where the direction of buoyage from each entrance meets. They form a line from just north of Lang Lang River to Palmer Point (French Island) to Observation Point (Phillip Island).
When navigating the Port Albert Channel between the Ocean Entrance and Port Albert there is a change of direction of buoyage at the junction of Midge Channel and Port Albert Channel marked by a lit West Cardinal Mark Beacon (VQ(9).10s.)
It is necessary to know the direction of north and the other main points of the compass.
Under the MSA it is an offence for any person to interfere or tamper with, or obstruct the use or operation of, a navigation aid.
