Navigation General · IALA Cardinal Marks

An IALA cardinal mark with two black cones pointing upward, painted black above yellow, indicates safe water lies to the:

Explanation

A North cardinal mark has both topmark cones pointing up and is black over yellow; you pass to the north of it to stay in safe water. Cardinal marks indicate where the navigable water lies relative to a danger (N, E, S, or W).

Authority: IALA Maritime Buoyage System; USCG Light List

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