Seamarks/Beacons

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Beacon

The tags defined on this page will render in various nautical charts. This page defines values for the seamark:type=* tag for beacons and their category attribute tags.

Types

A beacon is a prominent, specially constructed object forming a conspicuous mark as a fixed aid to navigation or for use in hydrographic surveys.

Type S100 code seamark:type Definition Example renderings Photo
Cardinal beacon BCNCAR beacon_cardinal A cardinal beacon is used in conjunction with the compass to indicate where the mariner may find the best navigable water. It is placed in one of the four quadrants (North, East, South and West), bounded by inter-cardinal bearings from the point marked. Beacon Cardinal.png Marseille 20120922 27.jpg
Isolated danger Beacon BCNISD beacon_isolated_danger An isolated danger beacon is a beacon erected on an isolated danger of limited extent, which has navigable water all around it. Beacon Isolated Danger.png Isolated Danger Mark on the Sveti Klement Island, Croatia.jpg
Lateral beacon BCNLAT beacon_lateral A lateral beacon is used to indicate the port or starboard hand side of the route to be followed. They are generally used for well defined channels and are used in conjunction with a conventional direction of buoyage. Beacon Lateral.png Babordsrandmärke med fågelbo Skärgårdshavet 2009.jpg
Safe water beacon BCNINB beacon_safe_water A safe water beacon is a prominent specially constructed object forming a conspicuous mark as a fixed aid to navigation or for use in hydrographic surveys. Beacon Safe Water.png
Special purpose beacon BCNSPP beacon_special_purpose A special purpose beacon is primarily used to indicate an area or feature, the nature of which is apparent from reference to a chart, Sailing Directions or Notices to Mariners (UKHO NP 735, 5th Edition). Beacon in general: A beacon whose appearance or purpose is not adequately known. Beacon Special Purpose.png

When top-marks, retro reflectors and/or lights are fitted to these marks, they are encoded as separate objects. Note that such top-marks are encoded as separate "topmark" (TOPMAR) objects). Beacons may also have lights and if such lights are fitted they are encoded as separate "light" (LIGHTS) objects.

Categories

Cardinal beacons

Cardinal beacons are always painted in yellow and black horizontal bands and their distinctive double cone top-marks are always black.

Category (CATCAM) beacon_cardinal:category Definition seamark:beacon_cardinal:colour
(seamark:beacon_cardinal:colour_pattern=horizontal)
seamark:topmark:shape
(seamark:topmark:colour=black)
North north Quadrant bounded by the true bearing NW-NE taken from the point of interest it should be passed to the north side of the mark. black;yellow 2 cones up
East east Quadrant bounded by the true bearing NE-SE taken from the point of interest it should be passed to the east side of the mark. black;yellow;black 2 cones base together
South south Quadrant bounded by the true bearing SE-SW taken from the point of interest it should be passed to the south side of the mark. yellow;black 2 cones down
West west Quadrant bounded by the true bearing SW-NW taken from the point of interest it should be passed to the west side of the mark. yellow;black;yellow 2 cones point together

Isolated danger beacons

There are no categories of isolated danger beacons. The default colours and topmarks are:

seamark:beacon_isolated_danger:colour seamark:beacon_isolated_danger:colour_pattern seamark:topmark:shape seamark:topmark:colour
black;red;black horizontal 2 spheres black

Lateral beacons

There are two international buoyage regions, A and B, between which lateral marks differ. The buoyage region is encoded using the separate attribute system (MARSYS). Lateral beacons and their topmarks are always painted in red, green, or red & green horizontal bands.

Category (CATLAM) beacon_lateral:category Definition seamark:beacon_lateral:colour
[seamark:beacon_lateral:colour_pattern=horizontal]
seamark:topmark:shape
Port-hand beacon port Indicates the port boundary of a navigational channel or suggested route when proceeding in the 'conventional direction of buoyage'. IALA-A: red, IALA-B: green cylinder
Starboard-hand beacon starboard Indicates the starboard boundary of a navigational channel or suggested route when proceeding in the 'conventional direction of buoyage'. IALA-A: green, IALA-B: red cone, point up
Preferred channel to starboard beacon preferred_channel_starboard At a point where a channel divides, when proceeding in the 'conventional direction of buoyage', the preferred channel (or primary route) is indicated by a modified port-hand lateral mark. IALA-A: red;green;red, IALA-B: green;red;green cylinder
Preferred channel to port beacon preferred_channel_port At a point where a channel divides, when proceeding in the 'conventional direction of buoyage', the preferred channel (or primary route) is indicated by a modified starboard-hand lateral mark. IALA-A: green;red;green, IALA-B: red;green;red cone, point up
Inland waterway lateral beacon ... Many more categories of lateral marks are used in inland waterways. See: CEVNI lateral marks

Safe water beacons

There are no categories of safe water beacons. The default colours and topmarks are:

seamark:beacon_safe_water:colour seamark:beacon_safe_water:colour_pattern seamark:topmark:shape seamark:topmark:colour
red;white vertical sphere red

Special purpose beacons

Main article: special purpose marks

Special purpose beacons can be any shape and are generally yellow in colour, with a variety of topmarks.

For "beacon_special_purpose:category" (CATSPM) definitions.

Shapes

Shape (BCNSHP) seamark:<beacon_type>:shape Definition Rendering
Stake, pole, perch, or post stake
pole
perch
post
An elongated wood or metal pole, embedded in the bottom to serve as a navigational aid or a support for a navigational aid. Beacon Stake.png
Withy withy A tree without roots stuck or spoiled into the bottom of the sea to serve as a navigational aid. Beacon Withy.png
Beacon tower tower A solid structure of the order of 10 metres in height used as a navigational aid. Beacon Tower.png
Pile beacon pile A long heavy timber(s) or section(s) of steel, wood, concrete, etc., forced into the seabed to serve as an aid to navigation or as a support for an aid to navigation. Beacon Pile.png
Lattice beacon lattice A structure consisting of strips of metal or wood crossed or interlaced to form a structure to serve as an aid to navigation or as a support for an aid to navigation. Beacon Pile.png
Cairn cairn A mound of stones, usually conical or pyramidal, raised specifically for maritime navigation. Beacon Cairn.png
Buoyant beacon buoyant A tall spar-like beacon fitted with a permanently submerged buoyancy chamber, the lower end of the body is secured to seabed sinker either by a flexible joint or by a cable under tension. Beacon Pile.png

Colours

Main article: seamark colours

Beacons can be painted in many different colours and colour patterns.

Other objects

Beacons may have other objects as part of their structure

Object S100 Definition Wiki page
Topmark TOPMAR A characteristic shape secured at the top of a buoy or beacon to aid in its identification. Topmarks
Light LIGHTS A luminous or lighted aid to navigation. Lights
Fog signal FOGSIG A warning signal transmitted by a vessel, or aid to navigation, during periods of low visibility. Also, the device producing such a signal. Fog signals
Radar transponder beacon RTPBCN A transponder beacon transmitting a coded signal on radar frequency, permitting an interrogating craft to determine the bearing and range of the transponder. Radar beacons
Radio station RDOSTA A place equipped to transmit radio waves. Radio stations
Radar reflector RADRFL A device capable of, or intended for, reflecting radar signals.

References

OSM seamark resources

JOSM presets & styles

External sources