Glossary
Terms & Glossaries of Shipping and Trading
Beacon
Beacon is a lighted or unlighted fixed aid to navigation attached directly to the Earth's surface (lights and daybeacons both constitute beacons.)
A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location. A common example is the lighthouse, which draws attention to a fixed point that can be used to navigate around obstacles or into port. More modern examples include a variety of radio beacons that can be read on radio direction finders in all weather, and radar transponders that appear on radar displays.
