Simplified and Traditional Paper Chart Symbols

ECDIS

ECDIS can be set to display aids to navigation with either traditional paper chart or
simplified symbols. The two symbol sets are shown below. Some ECDIS color fill the
paper chart buoy shapes, but this is not required by IHO ECDIS portrayal specifications.

Fixed Marks
Paper Chart

Simplified

Simplified Symbol Name

Cardinal beacon, north

Simplified Symbol Name

Cardinal beacon, east

Cardinal buoy, north

Cardinal beacon, south

Cardinal buoy, east

Cardinal beacon, west

Cardinal buoy, south

Cardinal buoy, west

Floating Marks
Paper Chart

Simplified

Default symbol for a beacon (used when no defining

attributes have been encoded in the ENC)
Isolated danger beacon
Major lateral beacon, red

Default symbol for buoy (used when no defining attributes

have been encoded in the ENC)

Major lateral beacon, green

Isolated danger buoy

Conical lateral buoy, green

Minor lateral beacon, green

Conical lateral buoy, red

Major safe water beacon

Can shape lateral buoy, green

Minor safe water beacon

Can shape lateral buoy, red

Major special purpose beacon

Minor special purpose beacon

Installation buoy and mooring buoy

* Paper chart symbols display various buoy or beacon shape symbols in conjunction with the topmark.
Simplified portrayal only displays the topmark.
** Several different paper chart symbols correspond to this simplified symbol.

**

Safe water buoy

Special purpose buoy, spherical or barrel shaped, or default
symbol for special purpose buoy

Day Marks
Paper Chart

Simplified

Simplified Symbol Name

Special purpose TSS buoy marking the starboard side of the

traffic lane
Special purpose TSS buoy marking the port side of the traffic
lane

Square or rectangular daymark

Special purpose ice buoy or spar or pillar shaped buoy

Triangular daymark, point up

Super-buoy ODAS & LANBY

Triangular daymark, point down

Light float
Retro reflector
Light vessel

86

Buoys, Beacons
INT

No.

Description

NOAA

NGA

Other NGA

ECDIS

Buoys and Beacons

IALA Maritime Buoyage System, which includes Beacons Q 130
Default symbol for buoy,
paper chart

Default buoy symbol if no other

defining attribution is provided

Default symbol for buoy,

simplified
Default symbol for a
beacon, paper chart

Default beacon symbol if no

other defining attribution is
provided

Default symbol for a

beacon, simplified
ECDIS shows the position of buoys and beacons
with a circle at the bottom of paper chart symbols.
For simplified symbols, the position of the aid
corresponds with the center of the symbol.

Position of buoy or beacon

Colors of Buoys and Beacon Topmarks

Supplementary national symbols: p

Abbreviations for Colors P

Green and black (symbols filled

black)

Single color other than green

and black

Multiple colors in horizontal

bands, the color sequence is
from top to bottom

RG

Multiple colors in vertical or

diagonal stripes, the darker color
is given first

RW

Retroreflecting material

Retro reflector

Note: Retroreflecting material may be fitted to some unlit marks. Charts do not usually show it. Under IALA Recommendations, black bands will appear blue under a spotlight.

Lighted Marks
Marks with Fog Signals R

Lighted marks on standard

charts

Lighted marks on multicolored

charts

Fl G

Fl R

Fl R
R

87

Q
No.

Buoys, Beacons
INT

Description

NOAA

NGA

Other NGA

ECDIS

Topmarks and Radar Reflectors

For Application of Topmarks within the IALA System Q 130

For other topmarks (special purpose buoys and beacons) Q

Paper chart symbols for topmarks (on the left, below)
are always displayed above a buoy or beacon shape
symbol, as in Q 10 and Q 11.
Simplified symbols (on the right, below) for cardinal
marks, isolated dangers and safe water consist of
only the topmark without the buoy shape symbol.
Simplified symbology for marks with any other type
of topmark will display only the simplified buoy or
beacon shape symbol without a topmark.
2 cones point upward
2 cones point downward
2 cones base to base
2 cones point to point
2 spheres

IALA System buoy topmarks

(beacon topmarks shown upright)

Sphere
Cone point up
Cone point down
Cylinder, square, vertical
rectangle
X-shape
Flag or other shape
Board, horizontal
rectangle
Cube point up
Upright cross over a
circle
T-shape

10

No2

Beacon with topmark, color, radar

reflector and designation

11

No3

Buoy with topmark, color, radar

reflector and designation

G 3
Ra Ref

No 3

Note: Radar reflectors on floating marks usually are not charted. ECDIS does not display radar reflectors on fixed or floating aids; this information is obtained by cursor pick.
88

bn No 2

Beacon in general with

topmark, paper chart

by No 3

Conical buoy with

topmark, paper chart

Buoys, Beacons
INT

No.

Description

NOAA

NGA

Other NGA

ECDIS

Buoys
Shapes of Buoys
Features Common to Buoys and Beacons Q 111
Paper Chart

Simplified

20

Conical buoy, nun buoy, ogival

buoy

Conical buoy

21

Can buoy or cylindrical buoy

Can buoy

22

Spherical buoy

SP

Spherical buoy

23

Pillar buoy

Pillar buoy

24

Spar buoy, spindle buoy

Spar buoy

25

Barrel buoy, tun buoy

Barrel buoy
Super-buoy

26

Superbuoy

Lanby, super-buoy
Super-buoy odas & lanby

Minor Light Floats

30

31

Light float as part of IALA System

Light float

Light float not part of IALA

System

Light float

89

Buoys, Beacons

No.

INT

Description

NOAA

NGA

Other NGA

Mooring Buoys

ECDIS

Supplementary national symbols: m, n

Oil or Gas Installation Buoy L

Mooring buoy, can
shape, paper chart

40

Mooring buoy, barrel

shape, paper chart

Mooring buoys

Installation buoy and

mooring buoy, simplified

41

Lighted mooring buoy (example)

42

Trot, mooring buoys with ground

tackle and berth numbers

Nr 1

Tel

Tel

T
T = telephonic

44

45

90

Numerous moorings (example)

Visitors mooring

Trot, mooring buoys with

ground tackle and berth
numbers

Mooring buoy, can

shape, paper chart

Tel = telegraphic

Mooring buoy with telegraphic or

telephonic communication

43

Mooring buoy with light

flare, barrel shape, paper
chart

Fl Y 2s

Numerous
mooring
buoys

(5 buoys)

Moorings

Mooring buoy, barrel

shape, paper chart
Installation buoy and
mooring buoy, simplified
Small craft mooring area
Availability of visitor
moorings at marina is
obtained by cursor pick

Buoys, Beacons
INT

No.

Description

NOAA

NGA

Other NGA

ECDIS

Special Purpose Buoys

Note: Shapes of buoys are variable. Lateral or Cardinal buoys may be used in some situations.
Purpose of buoy and other information
is obtained by cursor pick

50

Firing danger area (Danger

Zone) buoy

51

Target

52

Marker Ship

53

Barge

54

DG

Degaussing Range buoy

55

Cable

Cable buoy

56

Spoil ground buoy

57

Buoy marking outfall

Conical buoy with

topmark, paper chart

Special purpose buoy,

spherical or barrel
shaped, or default
symbol for special
purpose buoy, simplified

Tel

Super-buoy, paper chart

ODAS buoy (Ocean Data

Acquisition System), data
collecting buoy

58

ODAS

ODAS

Super-buoy odas &

lanby, simplified
Spherical buoy, paper
chart
Spherical buoy, simplified
Conical buoy with
topmark, paper chart

59

Buoy marking wave recorder or

current meter

60

Seaplane anchorage buoy

61

Buoy marking traffic separation

scheme

62

Buoy marking recreation zone

63

BuY

BuY

Al.Oc.BuY.3s

Special purpose buoy,

spherical or barrel
shaped, or default
symbol for special
purpose buoy, simplified
AERO

Conical buoy, paper

chart

Conical buoy with

topmark, paper chart

Emergency wreck marking buoy

(EWMB)

91

Buoys, Beacons

No.

INT

Description

NOAA

NGA

Other NGA

ECDIS

Seasonal Buoys
70
71

Buoy privately maintained

(example)

Priv

(01.04.
Y 31.10.)

Status as private is obtained by cursor

pick
Status as periodic and period start and
stop dates are obtained by cursor pick

Seasonal buoy (example)

Beacons
Lighted Beacons P

(occas)

Supplementary national symbols: o

Features Common to Beacons and Buoys Q111
Default symbol for a
beacon, paper chart

80

Beacon in general,
characteristics unknown or chart
scale too small to show

Bn

Bn

Bn

Default symbol for a

beacon, simplified
Beacon in general, paper
chart

81

Beacon with color, no distinctive

topmark

R
G

RW
Bn

Beacon color is obtained by cursor

pick
Beacon color is obtained by cursor
pick
See note at Q 9 for information about topmarks and
ECDIS simplified symbology
Beacon in general with
topmark, paper chart
Major red lateral beacon,
simplified

82

Beacons with colors and

topmarks (examples)

Beacon in general with

topmark, paper chart
Cardinal beacon, north,
simplified
Beacon in general with
topmark, paper chart
Isolated danger beacon,
simplified

83

Beacon on submerged rock with

colors (topmark as appropriate)

Beacon in general with

topmark, paper chart
Isolated danger beacon,
simplified

92

Buoys, Beacons
INT

No.

Description

NOAA

NGA

Other NGA

ECDIS

Minor Impermanent Marks Usually in Drying Areas (Lateral Marks of Minor Channels)
Minor Pile F

90

Stake, pole
Port Hand

Stake

Stake

Pole

Pole

Starboard Hand

91

Minor, stake or pole

beacon, paper chart
Minor, stake or pole
beacon, paper chart

Perch, withy

92

Minor red lateral beacon,

simplified
Minor green lateral
beacon, simplified

Withy

Minor Marks, Usually on Land

Landmarks E

100

Cairn

Cairn

CAIRN

Conspicuous cairn
Square or rectangular
day mark, paper chart
Square or rectangular
day mark, simplified
Triangular day mark,
point up, paper chart

101

Colored or white mark

Triangular day mark,
point up, simplified
Triangular day mark,
point down, paper chart
Triangular day mark,
point down, simplified

102.1
102.2

Colored topmark (color known

or unknown) with function of a
beacon

Painted boards with function of

leading beacons

93

Buoys, Beacons

No.

INT

Description

NOAA

NGA

Other NGA

ECDIS

Beacon Towers
Beacon tower, paper
chart

110

Beacon towers without and with

topmarks and colors (examples)

Beacon tower with

topmarks, paper chart

RW
Bn

Major red lateral beacon,

simplified
Major green lateral
beacon, simplified

111

Lattice beacon, paper

chart

Lattice beacon

Special Purpose Beacons

Leading Lines, Clearing Lines M
Note: Topmarks and colors shown where scale permits.

120

Leading beacons

Bns in
line 270

270 deg

121

Beacons marking a clearing line

Bns in
line 270

270 deg

MARKERS

122

Beacons marking measured

distance with quoted bearings

Cable landing beacon (example)

124

Refuge beacon

125

Firing danger area beacons

126

Notice board

94

Beacons marking a
clearing line or transit

270 deg

MARKERS

Beacons marking
measured distance

COURSE 27000'
TRUE

123

Leading beacons

270 deg
Cable landing beacon
(example)

Purpose as refuge or firing danger

area beacon is obtained by cursor pick

Notice board

Buoys, Beacons

IALA Maritime Buoyage System

IALA International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities
Where in force, the IALA System applies to all fixed and floating marks except landfall lights, leading lights and marks, sectored lights and major floating lights. The standard buoy shapes are cylindrical (can)
,
conical
, spherical
, pillar
, and spar
, but variations may occur, for example: light floats
. In the illustrations in Q 130.1, only the standard buoy shapes are used. In the case of fixed beacons (lit
or unlit), only the shape of the topmark is of navigational significance. Lateral marks are generally for well-defined channels.

130

There are two international buoyage regions where lateral marks differ. Region A is primarily comprised of the waters surrounding Greenland, Africa, Europe, Australia and Asia (except for Japan, the Republic of
Korea and the Philippines). Region B is primarily comprised of the waters surrounding North and South America, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines.

ECDIS marks the boundary between IALA regions A and B with this symbol:

180

150W

120W

90W

60W

30W

30E

60E

90E

120E

150E

180

60N

60N

30N

30N

130.1

Japan
Republic of Korea
Philippines

A
30S

30S

60S

60S
180

150W

120W

90W

60W

30W

30E

60E

90E

120E

150E

180

95

Buoys, Beacons
Port-hand marks are red with
cylindrical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is red.

Port-hand marks are green with

cylindrical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is green.

INT

Fl R

Fl G

RGR
G
Fl G

Fl G

Fl G

GRG

Fl R
R

Fl G

R
Fl R
R

Fl R

Fl R

R
Fl(2+1)R

Fl(2+1)G

RGR

GRG
R

Starboard-hand marks are green

with conical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is green.

G
G

Starboard-hand marks are red

with conical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is red.

G
R

REGION B

REGION A

All preferred channel marks have horizontal bands of

color; the top color indicates the preferred channel.

130.1
R
C

Port-hand marks are red with

cylindrical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is red.

R
C

G
Fl G

R
Fl R

R
N
G
C

GR
C
R
Fl R

G
Fl G

R
S

G
S

G
Fl G

R
Fl R

G
Fl G

A preferred channel buoy may be a can or conical shape

to indicate the preferred channel (in addition to the top
color band), but may also have a pillar or spar shape.

R
Fl R

RG
Fl(2+1)R

GR
Fl(2+1)G
G
N

Port-hand marks are green with

cylindrical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is green.

RG
C
G
Fl G

R
C

G
N

R
S

R
Fl R

NOAA

G
P

G
C

If lit, lights on port-hand and starboard-hand marks may

have any rhythm specified except Fl(2+1), which is used
for preferred channel aids.

G
C

G
N

Starboard-hand marks are green

with conical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is green.

R
N

R
N

Starboard-hand marks are red

with conical topmarks (if any).
If lit, light is red.

REGION B

REGION A

Direction of Buoyage: The direction of buoyage is that taken when approaching a harbor from seaward. Along coasts, the direction is determined by buoyage authorities, normally clockwise around land masses.

Symbols showing direction of buoyage where it is not obvious

INT
General symbol for direction of buoyage

IALA Region A
on multicolored charts

IALA Region B
on multicolored charts

General symbol for direction of buoyage

IALA Region A

IALA Region B

130.2
ECDIS

96

Buoys, Beacons
No.

INT

ECDIS

Cardinal Marks: indicating navigable water to the named side of the marks. In the illustration below all marks are the same in Regions A and B.

N
E

W
N

VQ
or Q

Topmark: 2 black cones

Light: White

Black above yellow

YBY

BY

BY

BYB

VQ(3)5s
or Q(3)10s

Point of
interest

The same abbreviations are used for lights on

spar buoys and beacons.

The periods 5s, 10s, and 15s may not always

be charted.
Time (seconds)

10

Paper chart symbology

15

Period
YBY

YB

YBY

Yellow with
black band

YB

Yellow above black

BYB

BYB

Black with
yellow band

Cardinal marks are seldom used in U.S. waters

and do not appear on NOAA charts, except for
charts that also depict Canadian waters.

W
YB

VQ(6)+LFl.10s
or Q(6)+LFl.15s

SE

SW

130.3

VQ(9)10s
or Q(9)15s

S
S
Simplified symbology

97

Buoys, Beacons
INT

No.

Description

NOAA

Other NGA

ECDIS

Pillar buoy with 2

spheres topmark

Isolated Danger Marks stationed

over dangers with navigable
water around them
BRB

BRB

130.4

NGA

BRB

BRB

Body: black with red horizontal

band(s)

Fl(2)

BR

Spar buoy with 2

spheres topmark

Topmark: 2 black spheres

Light: white
Isolated danger buoy,
simplified
Spherical buoy, paper
chart
Safe Water Marks such as
mid-channel and landfall marks

RW

RW

130.5
RW

RW

Pillar buoy with sphere

topmark

RW

Iso or
Oc or
LFl.10s or
Mo(A)

RW

Body: red and white vertical

stripes

RW

Topmark (if any): red sphere

Spar buoy with sphere

topmark

Light: white

Safe water buoy,

simplified
Spherical buoy,
paper chart
Special Marks not primarily to
assist navigation but to indicate
special features

130.6

Body (shape optional): yellow*

Al.Oc.BuY.3s*
BuY*

Can buoy

Fl.Y
BuY*

Topmark (if any): yellow x or

upright cross
Lights: yellow, rhythm optional*
*in special cases yellow may be
in conjunction with another color

Conical buoy

Spar buoy with x-shape

topmark

Special purpose buoy,

simplified

98

Buoys, Beacons
No.

INT

Description

NOAA

NGA

Other NGA

ECDIS

Supplementary National Symbols

a

Bell buoy

BELL

BELL

Gong buoy

GONG

GONG

Whistle buoy

WHIS

WHIS

Fairway buoy (red and white

vertical stripe)

RW

Mid-channel buoy (red and white

vertical stripe)

RW

Starboard-hand buoy (entering

from seaward - US waters)

R


Port-hand buoy (entering from

seaward - US waters)
Bifurcation/Junction buoys

G
1
RG

GR

Isolated danger, Wreck or

Obstruction buoy

BR

Fish trap (area) buoy

Anchorage buoy (marks limits)

Square shaped beacons

Beacon, color unknown

RG
Bn

Triangular shaped beacons

GR
Bn

W
Bn

B
Bn

Bn

Lighted beacon

Security barrier

Scientific mooring buoy

Float (unlighted)

White and blue buoy

Bn

Security barrier

WBuW

99