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IALA buoyage system A – lateral marks

Lateral marks are usually positioned to define well established channels, and indicate port and starboard sides of the navigation route into a port.


Where there may be doubt, the direction of buoyage can be indicated on charts by the symbol:

Graphic of a directional arrow that may be found on a chart

a port mark is coloured red and
the basic shape is a can
Example of a port lateral mark in daylight
by night a port buoy shows
a red light (when lit)
Example of a port lateral mark at night
 


a starboard mark is coloured
green and the basic shape
is a cone
example of a starboard lateral mark in daylight
by night a starboard buoy shows
a green light (when lit)

example of a starboard lateral mark at night
 


Last reviewed: 05 March 2012