Aids to Navigation in Canada - Buoys

Print this page to memorize the following navigational aids, their type, colour, and top marks.

Types of Floating Aids
Buoy Name Description
pillar Pillar Structure on floating base
spar Spar Single staff with flat (port) or peaked (starboard) top
Can, Cone, Sphere Square (port), conical (starboard), or round float

 

Common Top Marks (May be found on pillar and spar buoys.)
Buoy Name
port Lateral Port
Green square
starboard Lateral Starboard
Red triangle
fairway Fairway
Red sphere or circle
danger Isolated Danger
2 black spheres or circles
north Cardinal North
2 cones pointing to black portion of buoy
east Cardinal East
2 cones pointing to black portions of buoy
south Cardinal South
2 cones pointing to black portion of buoy
west Cardinal West
2 cones pointing to black portion of buoy

 

Daybeacons
Shape and colour Name Direction of Safe Water
pillar

Port
(Inner box may
be black)

 Right of the beacon heading upstream
spar Starboard Left of the beacon heading upstream
Port Junction Main channel to starboard
Starboard Junction Main channel to port

 

Lateral System (Note: not all buoys are equipped with lights and/or top marks.)
Buoy Name Colour Direction of Safe Water
Port Green

Right of the buoy heading upstream

(keep the buoy to port)
Starboard Red Left of the buoy heading upstream
Port Bifurcation Green
Red
Green		 Preferred or main channel to starboard
Starboard Bifurcation Red
Green
Red		 Preferred or main channel to port
Fairway Red and White All around
Isolated Danger Black
Red
Black		 All around but not near the buoy

Special Buoys (Note: partial list only)
Buoy Name Colour
Cautionary Yellow
Keep-out White and orange
Diving Red and white flag

Cardinal System (Note: not all buoys are equipped with lights but all have top marks.)
Buoy Name Colour Direction of Safe Water
North Black over
Yellow		 North of buoy
East Black
Yellow
Black		 East of buoy
South
Yellow
Black		 South of buoy
West Yellow
Black
Yellow		 West of buoy

 

Can you identify these Canadian Aids to Navigation, by name, shape, and direction of safe water (relative to aid) when travelling upstream? Click here to download the answers as a .pdf document.