A buoy is a floating marker moored to the seabed, designed to drift with the movement of waves and currents. Navigation buoys play a critical role in maritime safety, serving as lateral buoys, isolated danger buoys, safe water buoys, special marker buoys, and mooring buoys.
According to the IALA buoyage system, buoys are identified by their colors and top marks. For example, a buoy with a can-shaped top mark in green or red indicates a lateral buoy. They are significant in environmentally sensitive areas such as protected marine habitats, busy ports, and offshore projects.
In this article, we compare the two most common types of navigation buoys: marine steel buoys and polyethylene (PE) buoys.
Steel navigation buoys are constructed with welded CCBS hull structural steel. Their main components typically include the float, tail pipe, lamp stand, and ballast. The float is often divided into four sealed chambers, ensuring that even if two chambers are damaged, the buoy will remain afloat.
The lamp stand is made of hot-dip galvanized steel, providing strong resistance to corrosion. Both the buoy’s color and depth specifications can be customized to meet customer requirements.
High strength and durability, resistant to deformation after impacts.
Easy to manufacture using traditional cutting and welding techniques.
Reliable performance in harsh environments, such as strong currents or heavy seas.
Heavyweight makes handling and deployment more difficult.
High maintenance costs due to corrosion and repainting requirements.
Potential environmental risks from rust and coating degradation.
Polyethylene buoys are produced from 100% virgin, UV-stabilized polyethylene using modern rotational molding technology. Unlike steel buoys, they do not require sandblasting, painting, or frequent surface treatments.
These buoys are lightweight, brightly colored, and highly visible at sea, making them popular in ports, offshore projects, and dredging works.
High visibility thanks to bright, UV-resistant colors.
Lightweight and easy to transport, handle, and install.
Low maintenance, since polyethylene resists corrosion and does not require painting.
Long service life, resistant to UV radiation, cracking, and discoloration.
Lower overall cost, due to reduced maintenance and extended durability compared with steel buoys.
Lower structural strength compared with steel, making them less suitable for extreme or heavy-duty marine conditions.
As a professional buoy manufacturer, we not only supply products but also provide complete buoy solutions to ensure safe and reliable operations. Our services include:
Site assessment – to determine the most suitable buoy locations.
Buoy selection – tailored to customer requirements and project needs.
Custom buoy design – for both shallow and deep-water applications.
Technical support – including advice on marine lanterns and anchor chain selection.
Installation & maintenance – supervision, long-term service, and after-sales support.
Both steel and polyethylene buoys play an essential role in maritime navigation. Steel buoys are strong and reliable in demanding environments, while polyethylene buoys offer lightweight, cost-effective, and low-maintenance solutions. By understanding the differences, customers can select the best buoy type for their specific project requirements.
If you want to know more information, don't hesitate to contact us now!
