Waterway Marking Systems <> Channel Buoys

Lateral System (Federal)
The waters of the United States are marked for safe navigation by the lateral system of buoyage. This system employs a simple arrangement of colors, shapes, numbers and light characteristics to show the side on which a buoy should be passed when proceeding in a given direction. The characteristics are determined by the position of the buoy with respect to the navigable channels as the channels are entered from seaward.

The expression "red right returning" has long been used by the seafarer as a reminder that the red buoys are passed on the starboard (right) side when proceeding from the open sea into port (upstream). Likewise, green buoys are passed on the post (left) side, Conversely, when proceeding toward the sea or leaving port, red buoys are passed on the port side and green buoys on the starboard side. Red buoys are always even-numbered. Green buoys are odd-numbered. Red and white vertically stripped buoys mark the center of the channel.

Mooring to Buoys
Tying up to or hanging on to any navigation buoy (except a mooring buoy) or beacon is prohibited.

Aids to Navigation
In recent years, modification to certain aids to navigation located on coastal and inland waters have been completed. These changes apply to aids used in both the lateral and state waterway marking systems. See charts that follow:

----- Port-hand buoys are painted green, with green fixed or flashing lights.
----- Starboard-hand buoys are painted red, with red fixed or flashing lights.
----- Safe water buoys, also called midchannel or fairway buoys, and approach buoys are painted with red and white vertical stripes, with flashing lights.
----- Preferred channel, or junction buoys, are painted with red and green horizontal bands, with flashing lights.
----- Special marks (traffic separation, anchorage areas, dredging, fish net areas, etc.) are painted yellow. If lighted, the light may be fixed or flashing.

Waterway Marking Systems <> Channel Buoys

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