IALA-A and IALA-B Navigation Marks and Atons

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Getting confused about Lateral Navigation Marks and ATONs? There are two systems in the world. IALA-A and IALA-B. Basically, the colors are opposite but here is the infographic.

This information and everything else you need to know about coastal navigation is in the NauticEd Coastal Navigation Course. It’s only $39. Upon completion, the course is added to your globally accepted sailing resume.

Infographic showing IALA-A and IALA-B systems

Here is a world map of where these systems are used.

• On IALA-B use “red – right – returning”. i.e. put the red buoy on your right when returning.
• On IALA-A you use the mnemonic “Is there any red port left” to memorize which color buoy you pass on which side of your boat (when returning). i.e. take red buoy to your port (which is the left side of your boat.). Universally, “Is there any red port left?” also works for memorizing what color lights are on your boat. i.e. The red light is mounted on your port side of your boat which is the left side of your boat. For IALA-A is is also easy to remember that you match the color of your boats light to the buoy light. i.e. Red to Red and Green to Green.

IALA Regions

Just FYI: IALA stands for International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.