The Basic Principal of Aids to
Navigation
Red, Right, Returning from the
Sea.
Red colored buoys mark the
right-hand side of the channel as you return from seaward.
This is an important "rule" to
remember and is applicable everywhere in the IALA-B system but
in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and on the Great Lakes.
The ICW considers "clockwise" to be returning from
sea. Heading south down the east coast, heading west along
the gulf or north on the Pacific Coast would all be
"returning from the sea" as far as ICW buoyage is
concerned.
Green colored buoys mark the
left-hand side of the channel when returning from seaward - as
defined.
It is necessary to use a nautical
chart to correctly interpret the channels and the use of AtoNs
in an area.
The three general characteristics
of Aids to Navigation. Note that the chart
symbol for each graphic is included with the graphic. You
should become familiar with the chart symbols for each buoy
type.
Aids that mark the right-hand
side of a channel [returning from seaward] are:
 Red
in color.
Have even numbers.
If unlighted, are conical in
shape [called nuns].
If lighted, will show a red
light on a buoy structure.
Aids that mark the left-hand
side of a channel [returning from seaward] are:
Green in color.
Have odd numbers.
If unlighted, are shaped like a
can [called cans].
 If
lighted, will show a green light on a buoy structure.
 Lighted
Daymark
Aids that mark the center of
a channel are:
Striped vertically red and white.
Are never numbered but are
identified by letters.
If
unlighted, are ball-shaped (spherical).
Often emit a radio signal of Morse code A.
If lighted, will show a white
light with the light characteristic of Morse Code A and will
display a round ball at the top of the structure. These
buoys are commonly called "alpha buoys" or, when
marking the center of an entrance channel, "sea
buoys."
Aids (typically
called "preferred channel markers") that mark
an intersection in a channel are:
When unlighted, shaped for
their use in the main channel.
Show two colored bands. 
The top band reflects the use
of the aid in the main channel.
The lower band reflects the use
of the aid in the secondary channel.
When lighted, shows the light
color for the use of the aid in the main channel. Flash
characteristic is (2 + 1).
Is never numbered but is
identified with letters.
Intracoastal Waterway Aids to Navigation
System
The direction of the Intracoastal
Waterway System is from North to South along the eastern coast
of the US and East to West along the Gulf coast.
Often, the Intracoastal Waterway
travels along existing waterway systems in an opposing
direction.
Yellow squares, triangles, and
bands placed on existing waterway system buoys are used to
identify Intracoastal Waterway System buoyage. These buoys are
called DUAL-PURPOSE.
Buoys that mark the Intracoastal
Waterway System have a yellow band.]
Dual Purpose Buoys with yellow
squares are treated as CANs when traveling on the Intracoastal
Waterway System.
Dual Purpose Buoys with yellow
triangles are treated as NUNs when traveling on the Intracoastal
Waterway System.
Special Purpose Buoys.
Can be any shape.
Color is yellow.
If lighted, lamp color is
yellow.
Mark:
Anchorages
Jetties
Spoil areas.
Pipelines
Traffic Separation Schemes
Military Exercise Areas.
 Uniform
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