Special mark

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.

Examples of Special Marks

A Special mark indicating an outfall pipe in the Irish Sea off Helen's Bay, Northern Ireland. It has the flashing sequence Fl.(2).Y meaning it flashes yellow twice, this is called group flashing.

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

• Navigation
• Lateral mark
• Cardinal mark
• Safe water mark
• Isolated danger mark

References

• "Special Marks" (PDF). IALA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-14.