Special mark
A Special Mark, as defined by the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities, is a sea mark used in maritime pilotage. It is recognisable by its yellow colour and X, (also referred to as a St. Andrews Cross or saltire) top-mark. It has a distinctive sequence of various flashes that does not match any other navigational mark flashes in its vicinity.
Purpose
Special marks can indicate:
- Administrative areas
- Water skiing areas
- Anchorage areas
- Mooring areas
- Waiting areas
- Marine farms
- Oil wells
- Dead ends
- Pipelines
- Spoil ground (an area where dredged material is deposited)
- Historic wrecks
- Protected areas
- Outfall pipes (such as Stormwater, and Cooling water)
- Sewerage pipes
- Intake pipes
- Submarine cables
Other uses
- Buoys, such as a Weather buoy or Mooring buoy are coloured yellow or have a yellow light to indicate it is not an aid to navigation.
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special marks.
References
- "Special Marks" (PDF). IALA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-14.