Named after the cardinal parts of the compass, North, East, South, and West, cardinal marks indicate the position of a danger and the direction of the safe side on which to pass it. Cardinal Marks are constant in both IALA buoyage systems with distinctive yellow and black colours, topmarks, and white lights.
North Cardinal Mark
- Colour
- Black over Yellow
- Shapes
- Any shape but most commonly pillar or spar
- Top Marks
- Two cones pointing up
- Lights
- White, Q or VQ
- Chart Symbol
East Cardinal Mark
- Colour
- Black Yellow Black
- Shapes
- Any shape but most commonly pillar or spar
- Top Marks
- Two cones pointing away from each other
- Lights
- White, Q(3) 15s or VQ(3) 5s
- Chart Symbol
South Cardinal Mark
- Colour
- Yellow over Black
- Shapes
- Any shape but most commonly pillar or spar
- Top Marks
- Two cones pointing down
- Lights
- White, Q(6) + LFl 15s or VQ(6) + LFl 10s
- Chart Symbol
West Cardinal Mark
- Colour
- Yellow Black Yellow
- Shapes
- Any shape but most commonly pillar or spar
- Top Marks
- Two cones pointing towards each other
- Lights
- White, Q(9) 15s or VQ(9) 10s
- Chart Symbol
