LATERAL BUOYS (REGION ‘A’)

Lateral marks define a channel and indicate the port and starboard sides of the navigation route to be followed into a waterway such as a harbour, river or estuary from seaward. The vessel should keep port marks to its left and keep starboard marks to its right.

If lateral marks are unable to be represented by a can or cone shaped buoy they should carry the appropriate topmark.

At the point where a channel divides, a modified lateral mark is used to indicate a ‘preferred’ channel (often a deep channel suitable for heavy commercial vessels) on one side and a secondary channel on the other. A preferred channel is indicated by red and green horizontal bands on the lateral marker. If a vessel wants to use the ‘preferred’ channel they observe the top colour of the mark while a vessel wishing to use the secondary channel observes the bottom colour.

PORT HAND

  1. Color: RED.
  2. Shape: Can, Pillar Or Spar.
  3. Top-Mark (When Fitted): Single RED Can.
  4. Retroreflector: RED Band Or Square.
  5. Lights (When Fitted):
    • Color: Red.
    • Rhythm: May Have Any Rhythm Other Than Composite Group Flashing (2+1), As Per The Examples Below:

Flashing (fl)

Quick Flashing (Q)
VERY QUICK FLASHING
GROUP FLASHING (2)

STARBOARD HAND

  1. Color: GREEN.
  2. Shape: Conical, Pillar Or Spar.
  3. Top-Mark (When Fitted): Single GREEN Cone Point Upward.
  4. Retroreflector: GREEN Band Or Triangle.
  5. Lights (When Fitted):
    • Color: GREEN.
    • Rhythm: May Have Any Rhythm Other Than Composite Group Flashing (2+1), As Per The Examples Below:

Flashing (fl)

Quick Flashing (Q)
VERY QUICK FLASHING
GROUP FLASHING (2)

PREFERRED CHANNEL TO STARBOARD

  1. Color: RED With One Broad GREEN Horizontal Band.
  2. Shape: Can, Pillar Or Spar.
  3. Top-Mark (When Fitted): Single RED Can.
  4. Retroreflector: RED Band Or Square.
  5. Lights (When Fitted):
    • Color: RED.
    • Rhythm: Composite Group Flashing (2+1), As Per The Example Below:
COMPOSITE GROUP FLASHING (2+1)

PREFERRED CHANNEL TO PORT

  1. Color: GREEN With One Broad RED Horizontal Band.
  2. Shape: Conical, Pillar Or Spar.
  3. Top-Mark (When Fitted): Single GREEN Cone Point Upward.
  4. Retroreflector: GREEN Band Or Triangle
  5. Lights (When Fitted):
    • Color: GREEN.
    • Rhythm: Composite Group Flashing (2+1), As Per The Example Below:
COMPOSITE GROUP FLASHING (2+1)