LATERAL MARKERS

These navigation aids mark the edges of safe water areas: for example, directing traffic within a channel. The markers use a combination of colors and numbers, which may appear on either buoys or permanently placed markers.

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  COLORS AND NUMBERS

  The colors and numbers have the same meaning regardless of the kind of buoy or marker on which they appear.

RED COLORS, RED LIGHTS AND EVEN NUMBERS

These mark the edge of the channel on your starboard (right) side as you enter from open sea or head upstream. Numbers usually increase consecutively as you return from open sea or head upstream.

GREEN COLORS, GREEN LIGHTS AND ODD NUMBERS

These mark the edge of the channel on your port (left) side as you enter from open sea or head upstream. Numbers usually increase consecutively as you return from open sea or head upstream.

RED AND GREEN COLORS AND/OR LIGHTS

These are placed at the junction of two channels to indicate the preferred (primary) channel when a channel splits. If green is on top, the preferred channel is to the right. If red is on top, the preferred channel is to the left. These can also be referred to as “junction buoys.”

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  SHAPES

  NUN BUOY

  These cone-shaped buoys are always marked with red markings and even numbers. They mark the edge of the channel on your starboard (right) side when entering from open sea or heading upstream.

CAN BUOY

These cylindrical-shaped buoys are always marked with green markings and odd numbers. They mark the edge of the channel on your port (left) side when entering from open sea or heading upstream.

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  OTHER KINDS OF BUOYS AND MARKERS

  LIGHTED BUOYS

  These buoys use lateral marker shapes, colors and numbers, and have a matching colored light.

DAYMARKS

These are permanent signs attached to structures, such as posts, in the water. Common daymarks are red triangles (equivalent to nuns) and green squares (equivalent to cans). They also may be lighted.

“RED RIGHT RETURNING”

In most circumstances, you can use this phrase as a reminder of the correct course when returning from open waters or heading upstream.

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  VARIATIONS ON THE U.S. AIDS TO NAVIGATION SYSTEM

  The Intercostal Waterway (ICW) is a chain of local channels linked together to provide an inland passage along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Channels that are part of the ICW are identified by[…]