Special mark
{{Short description|Type of sea mark}}
File:Buoy off Seahill - geograph.org.uk - 720806.jpg
off Helen's Bay, Northern Ireland.
It has the flashing sequence Fl.(2).Y meaning it flashes yellow twice, this is called group flashing.]]
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
{{Portal|Geography}}
{{Commons category|Special marks}}
References
- {{cite web|url=http://www.iala-aism.org/web/pages/publications/docpdf/mbsenpdf/mbs6to9.pdf|title=Special Marks|publisher=IALA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214074824/http://www.iala-aism.org/web/pages/publications/docpdf/mbsenpdf/mbs6to9.pdf|archive-date=2007-12-14}}
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