IALA Buoyage Systems

The IALA buoyage systems were created in 1979 by the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) to unify the worlds navigational buoys. While predominately successful, there are still 2 buoyage systems used throughout the world, system A and system B. All the buoys are the same in the 2 systems apart from Lateral buoys and Preferred Channel buoys, which use opposite colours between the two buoyage systems.

IALA Buoyage System A

Used in the majority of the world including Europe, Africa, Australia and most of Asia. Here's a list of some noticeable countries that use the IALA System A.

• United Kingdom
  
  
• Spain
  
  
• Australia
  
  
• France
  
  
• South Africa
  
  
• Greece
  
  
• Seychelles
  
  
• Thailand
  
  
• Cape Verde
  
  
• Croatia
  
  
• New Zealand
  
  
• Egypt
  
  

IALA Buoyage System B

Used in the Americas, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and the eastern Pacific.

• United States of America
  
  
• Canada
  
  
• Japan
  
  
• South Korea
  
  
• Paraguay
  
  
• Argentina
  
  
• Brazil
  
  
• Philippines
  
  
• British Virgin Islands
  
  
• Grenada
  
  
• Ecuador
  
  
• Mexico