About Safe Water Marks
Safe Water Marks
Safe Water Marks are vital navigational aids used in maritime settings to indicate that the water in a specific area is safe for vessels to navigate. These marks are often spherical in shape and painted with black and white horizontal bands.
The primary purpose of Safe Water Marks is to highlight navigable water areas, typically over deep and hazard-free waters. When mariners see these marks, they can be confident that their vessels are in a safe location where they are unlikely to encounter any submerged obstacles or shallow waters. Safe Water Marks are especially important in harbours, channels, and entrances to ensure that ships stay within the designated safe passage.
In essence, Safe Water Marks act as reassuring beacons for mariners, signalling that they are in navigable waters and can proceed without the risk of grounding or other hazards. These marks are a critical component of maritime safety, helping ships maintain a clear and safe course in often complex and potentially dangerous waterways.
Chart Symbol
Image
Lights:
White, with a slow rhythm, either one long flash every 10 seconds,
or
Isophase (a light which has dark and light periods)
or
Occulting (light in each period is longer than the total duration of darkness
or
Morse Code (A) two clearly different durations Iso or Oc, L.Fl.10s or Mo(A)