(excerpt from Regulations about way of marking of waterways and aids to navigation)
Bridges are marked with daytime navigation marks, green colours on the starboard side and red colours on the port side.
If navigation is possible in the full bridge span, marks shall be placed on the bridge piers and if navigation is possible only in a certain part of the bridge span, marks shall be placed above or on the navigable channel, indicating safety limits of the navigable channel as follows:
- on the starboard side a panel in the shape of an equilateral triangle, painted in green and with the top point upwards
- on the port side a panel in the shape of a square, painted in red.
The best point of passage of the waterway is marked by day by a round panel painted with alternating red and white vertical stripes.
Bridges are marked by marks for nighttime navigation, green rhythmic lights on the starboard side and red rhythmic lights on the port side to indicate the sides of the navigable channel.
If navigation is possible in the full bridge span, lights shall be placed on the bridge piers and if navigation is possible only in a certain part of the bridge span, lights shall be placed above or on the navigable channel, indicating safety limits of the navigable channel.
The best point of passage of the waterway is marked by night by a white light or lights located under the bridge span with characteristics prescribed for marking safe waters.
Exceptionally, the Harbor Master's Office may, by a decision, approve lighting with reflectors of daytime navigation marks equipped with retro-reflecting material or illumination of bridge piers.
The best point of passage of the waterway is determined by the Harbor Master's Office depending on the height and width of the bridge, the depth of the sea and the regime of navigation in one or both directions.
The provisions of the Regulations shall apply accordingly to other structures and buildings located on the waterway, as well as to bridges under construction and other structures and buildings under construction on the waterway.
Beside marking bridges, structures and buildings by daytime and nighttime marks, the Harbor Master's Office may, by a decision, determine the obligation to install additional aids to navigation, as follows:
- radar reflectors
- RACONS to mark the best point of passage under a bridge
- AIS AtoN devices
- fog signals.
NAUTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BRIDGE MARKS
Bridge marks |
Port side |
The best point of passage |
Starboard side |
Colour |
Red |
Red and white vertical stripes |
Green |
Shape |
Panel, squared |
Panel, round |
Panel, equilateral triangle, point upward |
Light (if any) |
Red |
White |
Green |
Rhythm |
As a port side lateral mark |
As a safe water mark |
As a starboard side lateral mark |