Lighthouses and Other Structures

Lighthouses and major fixed lights may be identified by charted structure, daymark, light character and sometimes a fog signal. On paper charts a light flare indicates a lighted feature; use the applicable chart-symbol reference rather than treating one symbol description as universal across every product.

Beacons are fixed structures and may be lit or unlit. Light vessels and large light floats are floating aids at charted stations; mooring radius, weather or an off-station condition means they must not be treated like fixed survey points. Current charts and warnings remain authoritative.

Leading marks are a charted pair. When the front and rear marks are in line they provide one leading line or line of position along the intended alignment, not an exact fix by themselves. Lit buoys add the colour and rhythm prescribed for their mark type, while the buoy's shape, topmark and charted position complete the identification.