IALA Buoyage Systems- Sailing Navigation Theory

Cookies

We use technical and analytical cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.


Manage

IALA Buoyage Systems

Theory

The International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) that standardised the world's navigational buoys into two 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
    United Kingdom
  • Spain
    Spain
  • Australia
    Australia
  • France
    France
  • South Africa
    South Africa
  • Greece
    Greece
  • Seychelles
    Seychelles
  • Thailand
    Thailand
  • Cape Verde
    Cape Verde
  • Croatia
    Croatia
  • New Zealand
    New Zealand
  • Egypt
    Egypt

IALA Buoyage System B

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

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