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Aids to Navigation

Proactive Disclosure

Aids to Navigation Program - Publications

Important Notice:

Responsibilities concerning the development of policy and the implementation, enforcement and administration of the Aids to Navigation Protection Regulations (repeal date: July 1, 2007, this regulation now forms part of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001), Private Buoy Regulations (PBR), Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) and Boating Restriction Regulations have been transferred from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Coast Guard to Transport Canada.

Therefore, it is to be understood that all references to the above noted legislations and/or regulations contained in these publications are now under the responsibility of Transport Canada and all enquiries concerning these acts and regulations must be directed to webfeedback@tc.gc.ca.

The Canadian Coast Guard, Aids to Navigation program will ensure this change in responsibility is reflected when future updates are made to each of its publications.

Preface
Notices
Introduction

General
Cautions in the use of Aids to Navigation

Related Legislation

Aids to Navigation Protection Regulations
Criminal Code of Canada
Private Buoy Regulations
Boating Restriction Regulations
Collision Regulations

Coast Guard Aids to Navigation
Other Government Aids to Navigation
Private Aids to Navigation

General
Markings and Dimensions
Public Notification

Canadian Light Flash Characters
Floating Aids to Navigation (Buoys)

Navigation Buoys
Cardinal Buoys
Special Buoys
Daytime Identification

1. Buoy Colour
2. Buoy Shape
3. Topmarks

Nighttime Identification

1. Buoy Light Flash Characteristics
2. Buoy Light Colour
3. Reflective Material

Other Characteristics

Fixed Aids to Navigation

General
Lighted Fixed Aids
Daybeacons
Ranges
Fog Signals
Sector Lights

Radio Aids to Navigation

Radar Reflectors and Radar Beacons (RACONS)
Radiobeacons
Loran-C (LOng RANge Navigation)
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)

Related Publication and Sources

PREFACE

The Canadian Coast Guard is pleased to release the 2001 edition of The Canadian Aids to Navigation System booklet. This edition replaces the 1995 edition as the new standard for aids to navigation in Canada.

As you will notice, there have been several improvements made to this edition. These changes include:

a more "user friendly" format
update of the Private Buoy Regulations
update of long-range radio and satellite navigation technologies including Loran-C and GPS/DGPS
update of Provincial contacts for Boating Restriction Regulations, regional Canadian Hydrographic Service offices and the Canadian Coast Guard offices
update of the related publications and sources

The Coast Guard is confident that the changes made in this version provide the most comprehensive view possible of the Canadian aids to navigation system and greatly increase the value of this publication to the Canadian boating public.

NOTICES

Mariners are requested to immediately report any failure of a marine aid to navigation to the nearest Canadian Coast Guard office or to a Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre.
On December 8, 1994, the US Department of Defense made available the Global Positioning System (GPS) for civilian use. This marine navigation system provides the capability to obtain horizontal positioning accuracy within 20 metres 95 % of the time and 30 metres 99.99 % of the time.

A method of obtaining greater accuracy from GPS is through a technique called Differential GPS (DGPS).

Coast Guard implemented the differential service nationally in 1996 and declared the DGPS service as providing a Full Operational Service (FOS) on May 28, 2000.

The Canadian DGPS service complements the United States Coast Guard system.

NOTE: See pages 44 to 46 for more information on the GPS/DGPS System.
It is not necessary to obtain the Coast Guard's permission to place or operate a private aids to navigation; however, all who propose to do so must ensure that such aids conform to both the Private Buoy Regulations and in cases where boating is restricted, the Boating Restriction Regulations (see page 50 for more information on the Owner's Guide to Private Aids to Navigation publication).

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL

Definition

Aids to Navigation are devices or systems, external to a vessel, which are provided to assist a mariner determine his position and course, to warn him of dangers or obstructions or to advise him of the location of the best or preferred route.

Responsibility

The Canadian Coast Guard is responsible for the provision of aids to navigation in Canadian waters with the exception of waterways such as the Trent Severn and Rideau waterways, which are served by Parks Canada.

NOTE: A complete listing of Canadian Coast Guard Regional offices is included on pages 54 to 56.

Other Publications

For proper understanding and interpretation of their function, aids to navigation are to be used in conjunction with available marine publications including nautical charts, the List of Lights, Buoys and Fog Signals, the Radio Aids to Marine Navigation handbook and sailing directions. Information concerning nautical charts and sailing directions may be obtained from the Canadian Hydrographic Service, Department of Fisheries and Oceans. (See pages 53 for a complete listing of information sources).

The Canadian Aids to Navigation System

The Canadian aids to navigation system is a combined Lateral Cardinal system. A knowledge of the characteristics of each of these basic types of aids is a prerequisite to the safe use of the system.

Lateral Aids to Navigation

Lateral aids may be in the form of either buoys or fixed aids. These aids indicate the location of hazards and of the safest or deepest water by indicating the side on which they are to be passed. The correct interpretation of lateral aids requires a knowledge of the direction of buoyage known as the "upstream direction". The upstream direction is the direction taken by a vessel when proceeding from seaward, toward the headwaters of a river, into a harbour or with the flood tide. In general, the upstream direction is in a southerly direction along the Atlantic Coast, in a northerly direction along the Pacific Coast and in an easterly direction along the Arctic Coast. In some waters the upstream direction is indicated on the charts by the use of lines and arrows.

When a vessel is proceeding in the upstream direction, starboard hand aids must be kept to starboard (right) and port hand aids must be kept to port (left).

Cardinal Aids to Navigation

Cardinal aids may be in the form of either buoys or fixed aids; however, at present, their use is confined to buoys in the Canadian system.

Cardinal aids indicate the location of hazards and of the safest or deepest water by reference to the cardinal points of the compass. There are four cardinal marks: North, East, South and West, which are positioned so that the safest or deepest water is to be found to the named side of the mark (e.g. to the north of a north cardinal mark).

Winter Navigation

In many parts of Canada winter ice conditions necessitate the removal of aids to navigation buoys and the closing of navigation. The operation of navigation lights and fog signals on shore may also be discontinued during such times. Some lights may also be replaced by lights of lower intensity.

In areas of less severe ice conditions the unlighted buoys used in summer may be left in place or lighted buoys may be replaced by more rugged, but unlighted, winter buoys where navigation continues. Mariners who use channels marked by such buoys before the official opening of the navigation season are cautioned that these aids may not be in their advertised positions due to storms and shifting ice.

Mariners are advised of the closing of navigation, of the seasonal removal or substitution of buoys, of the re-opening of navigational areas and positioning of buoys, and of the temporary discontinuance of other aids to navigation by local marine radio broadcasts, Notices to Shipping, and/or published Notices to Mariners.

Night Navigation

Most buoys and many land based aids are equipped with light reflective material. This reflective material is coloured to signify the type or lateral significance of the aid and, for buoys at close range, displays the identification numbers, letters or symbols. On lighted buoys this material serves as a back-up to the light.

The Canadian Coast Guard recommends that vessels depending on aids to navigation be equipped with searchlights to enable them to make use of this reflective material when necessary. It is recommended that large vessels be equipped with boat-mounted searchlights with at least 75,000 candela and that small vessels carry a hand-held searchlight with at least a 3 watt bulb and 6 volt battery with a nominal power of 4,000 candela.

Speed and Navigation

Canadian aids to navigation are designed and positioned in consideration of expected vessel speeds and thus, cannot be expected to perform up to expectations in situations involving excessive speed. The Canadian Coast Guard advises mariners to conform to local speed restrictions where applicable and to exercise good judgement in other situations.

Mariners are especially urged to reduce speed and proceed with caution under conditions of poor weather or visibility (including night navigation), in hazard or high traffic areas, or where ice has formed. Under these conditions, consideration must be given to the possibility of equipment failures, to limitations of the aids to navigation, and to reduced reaction times; problems which are only compounded by high speeds.

NOTE: Rule 6 of the Collision Regulations, Canada Shipping Act sets out guidelines relating to safe speed.

CAUTIONS IN THE USE OF AIDS TO NAVIGATION

Most aids to navigation are not under continuous observation and mariners should be aware that, with the many thousands of aids in Canada, failures and displacements do occur. The Coast Guard does not guarantee that all aids to navigation will operate as advertised and in the positions advertised at all times. Mariners observing lights out of operation or buoys, markers, etc., off charted position, damaged or missing are responsible for reporting such problems to the nearest Coast Guard Radio Station, Vessel Traffic Centre or Coast Guard office.
Aids to navigation are subject to damage, failure or dislocation by ice or storms, by being struck by vessels or tows and by power failures. Ice and storm damage may be widespread and require considerable time to repair. Isolated damage may exist for a long time without being discovered and reported. Floating aids and pier lights in or near the water which are exposed to particularly rigorous strain during ice movement are at the greatest risk of damage and therefore, added caution is recommended in such situations.
Mariners are cautioned that buoys may fail to exhibit their advertised characteristics. Lights may be extinguished or sound signals may not function due to ice, collisions, mechanical failure and, in the case of bell and whistle buoys, calm water. The shape of a buoy may be altered by ice formation or damage. The colour of a buoy may be altered by freezing spray, marine growth or fouling by birds.
Mariners are cautioned not to rely solely on buoys for navigation purposes. Navigation should be by bearings or angles from fixed shore aids or other charted landmarks and by sounding or through use of satellite or radionavigation systems whenever possible.
The buoy positions shown on government charts should be considered only approximate positions. There are a number of limiting factors in accurately positioning buoys and their anchors, such as prevailing atmospheric and sea conditions, tidal and current conditions, seabed conditions and the fact that buoys are moored to anchors by varying lengths of chain and may drift about their charted positions within the scope of their moorings.
Since moving ice is liable to move buoys from their advertised positions, mariners should proceed with extreme caution under these circumstances.
Mariners are reminded that because of differences in horizontal datum (i.e. NAD 27, NAD 83), grids of charts of an area may vary from one chart to another. When plotting the positions of aids by the latitude and longitude method, the results should be checked against other available information.
In some instances where it is necessary to establish a buoy in close proximity to or on a navigational hazard (e.g., shoal, reef or ledge, etc.), the buoy symbol may be off set slightly on the chart in the direction of the preferred navigable water so that the existing hazard depicted on the chart will not be overprinted by the buoy symbol. Such off sets will be indicated on the chart by means of an arrow.
Mariners are cautioned not to navigate too closely to a buoy and risk collision with it, its mooring or with the underwater obstruction which it marks.
Many lights are equipped with sun switches that turn the lights off in daylight. These lights, both on shore and on most buoys, are unlit between sunrise and sunset. Mariners unable to see these lights during the daylight hours should not assume that the equipment is functioning abnormally.
At some lightstations, winter lights equipped with sun switches are operated when the main lights are decommissioned for the winter months. A winter light does not necessarily exhibit the same characteristics as the main light and has reduced intensity. The characteristics of a particular winter light and its season of operation are noted in the "Remarks" column of the List of Lights, Buoys and Fog Signals.
Many lightstations which exhibit the main light 24 hours per day are equipped with an emergency light which is brought into service automatically throughout the hours of darkness in the event of failure of the main light. These emergency lights are white and have a standard character of group flashing (6)15s. Emergency lights are normally (on a dark night with a clear atmosphere) visible at 5 nautical miles. The List of Lights, Buoys and Fog Signals publications identify which lightstations are equipped with emergency lights.
Atmospheric conditions can have a considerable effect on light transmission and the visibility of lights. For example:
1. The distance of an observer from a light cannot be reliably estimated from its apparent brightness.
2. At night it is difficult to distinguish between a white light and a yellow or blue light seen alone, except at a short distance.
3. Under some atmospheric conditions white and yellow lights take on a reddish hue.
4. Alternating lights with phases of different luminous intensity may change their apparent characteristics at different distances because some phases may not be visible.
5. Weak lights are more easily obscured by conditions of low visibility than more powerful lights. Coloured lights are often of lower intensity than white lights and are more quickly lost under unfavourable circumstances.
6. During cold weather, and more particularly with rapid changes of weather, ice, frost or moisture may form on the windows of lantern houses, thereby greatly reducing their visibility and possibly causing coloured lights to appear white.
7. A light exhibiting a very short flash may not be visible at as great a range as a light exhibiting a longer flash.
The mariner should not rely solely on colour when using a sector light, but should verify the vessel's line of position by taking a bearing on the light. On either side of the line of demarcation, between white and red, and also between white and green, there is always a small arc of uncertain colour.
When the arc of visibility of a light is cut off by sloping land, the bearing at which it disappears or appears will vary with the observer's distance and height of eye.
The sighting of a light may be adversely affected by a strongly illuminated background.
In view of the varying distances at which a fog signal can be heard at sea, and the frequent occurrence of fog near, but not observable from, a fog signal station, mariners are cautioned that:
1. While every endeavour will be made to start fog signals as soon as possible after signs of fog have been detected, they should not, when approaching the land in a fog, rely implicitly upon these fog signals, but should always take soundings, which, in nearly all cases, will give sufficient warning of danger.
2. They should not judge their distance from a fog signal by the power of the sound. Under certain atmospheric conditions the sound may be lost at a very short distance from the station, and these conditions may vary within very short intervals of time. Mariners should not assume that a fog signal is not in operation because they do not hear it, even when in close proximity to it.
The visual aids to navigation (e.g. lights) provided by the Coast Guard are for the purpose of assisting marine navigation. Hunters, snowmobilers and ice fishermen are cautioned that aids to navigation installed for marine navigation purposes cannot be relied upon after the close of the marine navigation season. Such aids may stop operating without warning and will not be recommissioned by the Coast Guard until the next opening of marine navigation.

RELATED LEGISLATION

AIDS TO NAVIGATION PROTECTION REGULATIONS

Regulations have been enacted, under the Canada Shipping Act, to require anyone who accidentally damages an aid to navigation to report such occurrence to the Canadian Coast Guard and thus ensure the availability of the important service which they provide. These Regulations, which are called Aids to Navigation Protection Regulations, are as follows:

"1. These Regulations may be cited as the Aids to Navigation Protection Regulations."

"2. In these Regulations "aid to navigation" means a buoy, beacon, lighthouse, lightship or any other structure or device installed, built or maintained for the purpose of assisting the navigation of vessels."

"3. (1) The person in charge of a vessel or tow that runs down, moves, damages or destroys an aid to navigation shall report the fact as soon as is practicable to the nearest Regional Director General or District Manager of the Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries & Oceans.

(2) Every person who fails to comply with subsection (1) is liable to a fine of $200."

CRIMINAL CODE OF CANADA

Section 439 of the Criminal Code of Canada provides:

"439. (1) Everyone who makes fast a vessel or boat to a signal, buoy or other seamark that is used for purposes of navigation is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

The penalty is a fine of not more than $2,000.00 or six months imprisonment or both.

(2) Everyone who wilfully alters, removes or conceals a signal, buoy or other seamark that is used for purposes of navigation is guilty of an indictable offence and liable for imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years."

PRIVATE BUOY REGULATIONS

The Canada Shipping Act, Private Buoy Regulations apply to all private buoys placed for the purpose of navigation or mooring with the exception of those which are used to mark fishing apparatus. These Regulations have been enacted to ensure that Canadian private buoys conform to accepted International and Coast Guard standards. In situations in which a private aid to navigation does not meet such standards Coast Guard is authorized to affect their removal or repair in accordance with the Regulations.

Very generally, the main principles of this Regulation include:

No person shall place or cause to be placed in any water a private buoy that interferes with or is likely to interfere with the navigation of any vessel, or misleads or is likely to mislead the operator.
No person shall place or cause to be placed, or maintain a private buoy unless all size, shape and identification requirements are met.
All private buoys must conform to those standards and guidelines as set out in The Canadian Aids to Navigation System (TP 968), as amended from time to time.
The Minister may require any change to be made to a private buoy, including an increase in minimum dimension or addition of retroreflective material, in any case where there is a need for improved visibility or better identification according to the requirements set out in the procedures manual for design and review of short-range aids to navigation system (TP9677), as amended from time to time.
Every private buoy and its mooring shall be constructed and maintained in such a manner and with such materials as will reasonably ensure that it will reliably remain in position and display its intended characteristics.
Every lighted buoy shall exhibit those light characteristics as required by Coast Guard and as specified in The Canadian Aids to Navigation System (TP 968) during the hours of darkness.

Under the Canada Shipping Act, persons failing to follow the legislated guidelines are liable on summary conviction to fines of up to $200. In the event of an accident, private owners may also be found liable for any damages resulting from negligent operation and/or maintenance of the aid.

NOTE: Consult the full text of the Regulations for further details.

BOATING RESTRICTION REGULATIONS

Regulations have been enacted, under the Canada Shipping Act, to restrict the presence, activities, speed and engine size of boats on specified Canadian waters. These Regulations also define the prohibitions which apply to the construction, marking, placement, treatment and removal of authorized restrictive signs. The main principles include:

No person shall place or remove a sign which restricts the operation of any vessel in Canadian waters without first receiving authorization from the Minister of Transport.
No person shall alter, conceal, damage or destroy any authorized sign and shall not use such signs for mooring purposes.
No person shall operate a vessel in contravention of any restriction contained in an authorized sign unless exempt, as defined by the Regulations, or authorized by the Minister of Transport.
No person shall engage in any unauthorized activity, such as the staging of a regatta, boat race or marine parade, unless authorized by a permit issued pursuant to these Regulations.
No regatta, marine parade or boat race shall be held in a manner or at a place that would have the effect of unnecessarily obstructing ordinary navigation.
No person shall operate a commercial river raft unless authorized by a permit issued pursuant to the Regulations.
The Minister of Transport may authorize any party to place a sign in an area for the purpose of indicating that a restriction on the operation of vessels established by the Regulations exists in respect of that area, but may also cancel such authorizations and order removal if necessary.
Where a designated authority seeks the imposition of a restriction on navigation that is of the same nature as a restriction imposed by these Regulations, the authority may submit to the Minister of Transport a request for such a restriction together with any information regarding its implementation.
All those permitted and taking part in any activity under these Regulations must comply with all conditions set out in the permit.
All signs authorized under these Regulations must conform to the size and marking specifications as set out in the Regulations.
Any person who places an authorized sign is liable for all costs of construction, placing, maintenance and removal thereof and shall cause the sign to be maintained in the form and construction required by the Regulations.
A peace officer may question any person respecting any contravention or suspected contravention of these Regulations and may go on board any vessel for that purpose.
Every person who contravenes these Regulations is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $500.

A complete listing of Provincial contacts for Boating Restriction information and permits is included at the end of this publication. For full details of these provisions consult the full text of Chapter 1407 of the Canada Shipping Act, Boating Restriction Regulations.

COLLISION REGULATIONS

These Regulations define the conduct which every vessel, in any water, must follow in order to avoid collision. Requirements for the carriage of navigation aids, such as lights and sounding appliances, guidelines detailing safe operation, and standards for the use of aids are also included.

It is of particular interest to mariners to note the similarities between these Regulations, other Coast Guard standards and common private practices in terms of light colours and flash characters. The following is a list of light requirements, under this Act, which may be confused with other standard lighting requirements (e.g. blue flashing lights are often used by private individuals for the purpose of marking harbour entrances; yellow flashing lights indicate the existence of special buoys).

List of light requirements
Name	Description	Usage
Flashing Yellow	A yellow light in which a flash is regularly repeated at a frequency of 120 flashes per minute or more.	Air cushion vessels when operating in non-displacement mode.
Special Flashing Yellow	A Yellow light flashing at regular intervals at a frequency of 50 to 70 flashes per minute.	Vessels being pushed.
Flashing Blue	A blue light in which a flash is regularly repeated at a frequency of 50 to 70 flashes per minute.	Any government or police vessel while engaged in duties.
Morse "U"	A white light in which two short flashes is followed by one long flash, the whole sequence being repeated two times per minute.	Stationary exploration or exploitation vessel.

Mariners should be knowledgeable with respect to the existence of these similarities and are urged to be aware of their presence on Canadian waters.

COAST GUARD AIDS TO NAVIGATION

By far, the most common owner/operator of aids to navigation in Canadian waters is the Canadian Coast Guard. Simply defined these include aids to navigation owned by the Canadian Coast Guard and any aid which is governed by a special agreement or partnership program with any other government agency in which Coast Guard retains operational and maintenance responsibilities.

Coast Guard and some other government aids to navigation are distinguishable from private buoys by their distinctive numbering-lettering system.

NOTE: See the sections on buoys and buoy numbering for more information on Coast Guard identification.

OTHER GOVERNMENT AIDS TO NAVIGATION

Other government agencies also establish aids to navigation or special purpose buoys or markers. These may include any Federal, Provincial, Municipal or other government agency, department, Crown Corporation or other authority. For example, the Department of National Defence, Parks Canada, Harbours and Port Commissions, and Ferry Corporations are current owners of aids to navigation.

When charted, these aids will normally not be identified as private aids as indicated by the letters "PRIV". When advertised in the List of Lights, Buoys and Fog Signals these aids will be identified by the name, address and telephone number of the owner.

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An official hardcopy of this publication may be purchased through the Canadian Hydrographic Services.

Note: Some graphics may not be included or as exact as those shown in the official hardcopy publication.