Navigation and Seamanship

4.3.2. Buoys

Buoys are floating objects heavily anchored to the bottom that are intended to convey information to a navigator by their shape and colour, by the characteristics of a visible or audible signal or a combination of two or more such features. Buoys are perhaps the largest category of aids of navigation and come in many shapes and sizes. Lightships fit such a definition but form a separate category by themselves. Buoys detection at night; these reflect brightly in the beam of a vessel’s searchlight. Many buoys have radar reflections. Buoys often have bands or patches of reflective material to enhance their detection at night these reflect brightly in the beam of a vessel’s search light. Some buoys have radar reflections