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
- Color: GREEN.
- Shape: Can, Pillar Or Spar.
- Top-Mark (When Fitted): Single GREEN Can.
- Retroreflector: GREEN Band Or Square.
- 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)
STARBOARD HAND
- Color: RED.
- Shape: Conical, Pillar Or Spar.
- Top-Mark (When Fitted): Single RED Cone Point Upward.
- Retroreflector: RED Band Or Triangle.
- 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)
PREFERRED CHANNEL TO STARBOARD
- Color: GREEN With One Broad RED Horizontal Band.
- Shape: Can, Pillar Or Spar.
- Top-Mark (When Fitted): Single GREEN Can.
- Retroreflector: GREEN Band Or Square.
- Lights (When Fitted):
- Color: GREEN.
- Rhythm: Composite Group Flashing (2+1), As Per The Example Below:
COMPOSITE GROUP FLASHING (2+1)
PREFERRED CHANNEL TO PORT
- Color: RED With One Broad GREEN Horizontal Band.
- Shape: Conical, Pillar Or Spar.
- Top-Mark (When Fitted): Single RED Cone Point Upward.
- Retroreflector: RED Band Or Triangle.
- Lights (When Fitted):
- Color: RED.
- Rhythm: Composite Group Flashing (2+1), As Per The Example Below: