BOATsmart! Base de connaissances du Canada
Module 06 - Markers and Buoys
Systems of Buoys In Canada
There are several systems of buoys and markers used on Canadian waterways to aid in navigation:
The Lateral System: The Lateral System consists of red and green buoys used to mark preferred safe routes. The Lateral System also includes Fairway Buoys, Isolated Danger Buoys and Day Beacons.
The Cardinal System: The Cardinal System consists of yellow and black buoys that indicate safe routes by the cardinal compass points.
The Range System: A Range is a series of two buoys that, when aligned along a sight path, indicate the safest route for navigation.
Special Purpose Buoys: These buoys may be yellow or white in colour and are used to mark dangers such as (but not limited to) racecourses, underwater structures, pipelines, etc.
