IALA buoyage · Cardinal marks
West cardinal mark
Identical in A and B
Yellow with a black band, cones point-to-point: safe water lies to the west — pass west of it. White light Q(9) 15s.
Q(9) 15s9 quick flashes every 15 s.9 quick flashes every 15 s.
Pillar buoy; horizontal bands top to bottom: yellow, black, yellow; topmark: two black cones, points together. Light: Q(9) 15s.
What it means
Danger lies to the east of this mark; the safe, navigable water is on its west side. Identical in both IALA regions.
What you do
Pass to the west of the mark.
Memory aid
Points together make a Wineglass — a Wasp-waisted W for West. The points aim at the black band in the middle. Light: 9 flashes = 9 o’clock = west.
Source: IALA Maritime Buoyage System — USCG Navigation Center, U.S. Aids to Navigation System