In the North Sea area, you sight a buoy showing a quick white light with 9 flashes every 15 seconds. Which of the four topmarks shown in illustration D030NG below would be fitted to the buoy?
• IALA Maritime Buoyage System Region A used in the North Sea • Cardinal marks and how their light groups (Q or VQ) relate to compass quadrants (N, E, S, W) • The connection between a buoy’s flash pattern and its topmark cone orientation
• First decide what type of buoy shows a quick white light with 9 flashes in 15 seconds—does that pattern belong to lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, safe water, or special marks? • Once you know it is a cardinal mark, determine which compass quadrant (N, E, S, or W) uses a group of 9 quick (or very quick) white flashes. • After identifying the correct quadrant, match it to the standard cone orientations used for that specific cardinal mark.
• Confirm from your buoyage table that only one type of cardinal mark uses a light rhythm of Q(9) or VQ(9). • Double‑check how the cones point for each cardinal: both up, both down, points apart, or points together. • Verify that the chosen topmark shape correctly represents the quadrant that corresponds to 9 quick white flashes in 15 seconds.
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