IALA buoyage · Cardinal marks
East cardinal mark
Identical in A and B
Black with a yellow band, cones base-to-base: safe water lies to the east — pass east of it. White light Q(3) 10s.
Q(3) 10s3 quick flashes every 10 s.3 quick flashes every 10 s.
Pillar buoy; horizontal bands top to bottom: black, yellow, black; topmark: two black cones, bases together. Light: Q(3) 10s.
What it means
Danger lies to the west of this mark; the safe, navigable water is on its east side. Identical in both IALA regions.
What you do
Pass to the east of the mark.
Memory aid
Cones point apart like an Easter Egg — East. The points aim at the black: top and bottom. Light: 3 flashes = 3 o’clock = east on the clock face.
Source: IALA Maritime Buoyage System — USCG Navigation Center, U.S. Aids to Navigation System