Buoys and Beacons

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Nuns: the solid red buoys marking channels shaped like cones are called Nuns. When the Nun has a green line striking through it, the buoy indicates the meeting of two channels. The left channel is the main channel. The Nuns can sometimes be lighted with a red light or can be non lighted.

Cans: the solid green buoys marking channels shaped like a can are called Cans. When the Cans have a red band striking through it, the buoy indicates the meeting of two channels with the right channel being the main channel. The Cans will sometimes be lighted with a green light.

Beacons: a beacon is attached to land, sometimes attached to the ocean floor, installed on land, docks, breakwaters or mounted on pilings. One good example of a beacon is a lighthouse. The beacon attached to the ocean floor will move with the low and high tides. When the beacon is not lighted up it is referred to as a daybeacon while a lighted beacon is referred to as a Minor Light. A Minor Light with a red light indicates the right side of the channel is preferred and a green light identifies the left side of the channel is preferred.

Daymarks: the colored panels secured to a beacon are referred to as daymarks. The red daymarks are shaped on a triangle panel and a green one is shaped on a square panel. A triangle red daymark with a green horizontal stripe striking through it indicates a meeting of two channels with the left channel being the preferred channel. The square green panel with a red horizontal striking through it indicates the meeting of two channels with the right channel be the preferred channel.