Major Lighted Aids

lighthouse

Major lighted aids to navigation may display a main light, are equipped with an emergency light, and may be equipped with a fog signal or RACON.

Light

The colour and character of the light are advertised on the chart and on the publication list of lights, buoys and fog signals. The colour of the structure may not have lateral significance. The elevation of the light above the water level (metres (m) or feet (ft)) and nominal range (nautical miles (M)) may be indicated. Equipped with an emergency light of reduced intensity, Fl(6)15s. When the colour of the light is not specified for any marine aid to navigation light, it is white.

Fog Signal

Signal characteristics are advertised on the chart and on the list of lights, buoys and fog signals.

RACONS

A RACON (radar beacon) transmits a Morse code pulse that can be seen on a radar display distinguishing it from surrounding radar targets. Information concerning RACONS can be found in radio aids to marine navigation.

major-lighted-aids-chart
Major lighted aids as they would appear on a chart

Minor Lighted Aids

A minor lighted aid may display characteristics of lateral significance. Consult the list of lights for physical description of these aids.

minor-lighted-aids-1
minor-lighted-aids-2

Ranges

Description:

A range consists of two or more fixed navigation marks situated some distance apart and at different elevations. May or may not be lighted. The shape and colours of the daymarks and the colours and characters of lights are advertised in the list of lights.

User’s Guide: A range provides a leading line for navigators. When both marks are in
line the observer is on the recommended track. Consult the charts for the portion of channel serviced by the range.

ranges-chart-grouped
Unlighted and lighted range aids as they would appear on a chart.

range-lines-off-on-line

Sector Lights / Secondary Landfall Aids

Description:

A sector light’s beam is divided into sectors of different colours.

User’s Guide: The different coloured sectors provide a warning or a leading line to mariners. Sector colours and boundaries are indicated in the list of lights, and on marine charts.

sector-lights-grouped
Sector lights as they would appear on a chart.
sector-lights

No Anchorage

Description:

Square with a black anchor symbol centred on a white background with a red fluorescent diagonal stripe superimposed across it.

User’s Guide: Do not anchor within the zone indicated on the chart. Area may contain submerged pipelines, power cables, etc.

no-anchorage-chart
No anchorage zone on a chart.

no-anchorage

Standard Daybeacon Characteristics

Port Hand

Description:

Green fluorescent or black square centre on a white background with a green retroreflective border. It may display an odd number made of white retroreflective material.

User’s Guide: When proceeding upstream, a port hand daybeacon must be kept on the vessel’s port (left) side.

port-hand-daybeacon

Starboard Hand

Description:

Red fluorescent triangle centre on a white background and with
a red retroreflective border. It may display an even number made of white retroreflective material.

User’s Guide: Marks a point where the channel divides and may be passed on either side. If the preferred channel is desired (left), the daybeacon should be kept on the vessel’s starboard (right) side.

starboard-hand-daybeacon

daybeacons

Attribution Statement: Contains information published by the Canadian Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries and Oceans licensed under the Canadian Coast Guard Open Information Licence. This Information is available in its original format for free download on the Canadian Coast Guard website and the Monthly Edition of the Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) website.