Aids to Navigation
Also known as: aids to navigation, atons, navigation aids
Structures or devices used to assist mariners in determining position and safe navigation.
Aids to Navigation refer to the system of visual, electronic, and audible markers used to guide vessels along safe routes. These include buoys, beacons, lighthouses, leading lights, daymarks, and electronic aids such as AIS transmitters. They are used to mark channels, port approaches, shoals, wrecks, and other navigational hazards. Aids to Navigation are essential for safe port entry, coastal navigation, and confined-water operations. Their placement, color, shape, and light characteristics follow internationally recognized systems, allowing mariners to interpret them consistently across different regions.
