Today, the movement of vehicles is carried out in various environments: land, air, sea. As for land transport, and for sea vessels, a system of rules and signs is in place that regulate their movement and ensure safe cruising on the surface of water channels.
What is a MAMS system?
The IALA system (International Association of Maritime Means and Lighthouse Services) is a unified danger protection system, founded in 1957 with the aim of ensuring the safety of ships on the surface of the oceans. It has several types of regulatory floating signs and other navigation equipment to prevent accidents in the sea and ensure the safety of the property of moving ships.
IALA principles
The basic principle of IALA is the territorial division of the oceans by the conventional axis - the main channel (channel). To the left of the fairway, the sea space is called Region A, and to the right - Region B. The countries included in them are distinguished by the color of the designation of navigation equipment (SSS). So, for region A, red color is provided, and for region B - green. For each of them, the reference point of the sea space begins in the direction from the main fairway (with the exception of individual cases).
The IALA system is also based on the following legitimate principles:
- The minimum amount of aids to navigation required for the safe navigation of seafaring vehicles.
- IAMS floating signs can be easily recognized in the dark by the color of the lights on them and the frequency of flashes, and in the daytime by the shape and color of the top figures.
- The color of the lights (white, green and red) differs on different types of navigation signs and have different meanings.
- Along with the navigation dangers provided by the signs, those involved in the accident and sunken ships are also protected.
The International Association of Lighthouse Services adjusts maritime navigation using five types of floating signs:
- Lateral.
- Cardinal.
- Special.
- Axial.
- Fencing signs of individual hazards.
Lateral signs
Unlike the following types of signs, the lateral ones have a characteristic color that is different for regions A and B. So, the lateral signs of region A are red, and in region B they are colored green.
The purpose of these navigation aids is to indicate the boundaries of the path of movement. Exhibited along longitudinal channels, fairways and other sea and river passages (which have pronounced boundaries), which pose a danger to traffic.
The lateral navigation mark system has figures of a cylindrical or conical shape.
Fencing of the fairway with lateral signs is carried out according to the principle of the right and left side. Thus, if you move in the direction from the sea, then on the right there should be buoys or milestones of green color with the top figure at the top - a triangle (sometimes the design is supplemented by a flashing green light). The left side is indicated by red shapes with a rectangle and red fire on top.
Lateral signs are used not only to highlight the boundaries of sea and river passages, but also to separate the water channel in order to identify priority. Thus, red signs with a wide green stripe in the middle and a possible additional top figure (cylinder) and red light will mean that the main channel is on the right. Conversely, green milestones / buoys with a red stripe and green fire and a triangle on top are interpreted as a symbol that the main channel is on the left.
Cardinal signs
This system of navigation signs is used to indicate dangers and obstacles to the movement of sea or river transport, and also shows which side to bypass the danger.
The signs are columnar in black and yellow with two black triangles and sometimes with white fire on top. The arrangement options for the black and yellow stripes, as well as the triangles, differ depending on the type of cardinal sign.
Exhibited according to the principle of finding from danger, depending on the cardinal points. Thus, cardinal signs are divided into 4 types: northern (located from the north from danger), southern (from the south), western (from the west), eastern (from the east). Having seen one of them, the driver of the ship must bypass the danger from that side of the world to which this means of navigation equipment belongs. That is, if there is a southern cardinal sign, then you need to bypass the danger from the south side.
Special signs
Special floating signs are used to highlight special areas or objects. Examples of the use of special signs: a place for traffic separation, a landfill, cable or pipeline communication, a military zone, a training ground, the location of fishing tackle, anchorage, etc.
Floating signs may be of any form provided for by a unified navigation system in the aquatic environment. The characteristic color of the signs of this group is yellow; a curved cross or the letter “x” is used as the top figure. If there is a signal light, yellow light can be seen on them.
The number of signs displayed depends on the significance and area of the area or facility. For a small object, one special sign is placed in the middle of the object, and if you need to highlight a fairly significant area, the arrangement of special signs is used on the basis of the circumference.
Axial signs
The axial sign, or, as it is also called, the sign of clean water informs the skipper that there is a water area around the facility that is safe for navigation, in other words, it indicates the axis of the fairway and indicates a safe course.
IAMS navigation system implies 3 forms of axial signs: sphere, milestone and cylinder. Coloring is alternately arranged vertical stripes of red and white. At the top is a top figure - a red ball and a flashing light of white color.
Separate hazard signs
For the designation of individual underwater objects that are dangerous for a moving vessel, enclosing floating signs are used. These means of navigation mean that various kinds of barriers are only directly under the sign, and around the water space is safe for the movement of sea and river transport. Some dangers include: underwater rocks, the remains of a sunken ship, shallow water.
The group of navigational aids is represented by figures of columnar or conical shape with a wide base (milestones), the color is black with one or more horizontal red stripes. The top figure is two black balls located one above the other.