🔍 Key Concepts

• IALA Maritime Buoyage System – understand what different buoy colors and light patterns mean • Characteristics of a wreck-marking buoy versus other special buoys (safe water, isolated danger, special purpose) • Meaning of topmarks (shapes placed on top of buoys) in the buoyage system

💭 Think About

• Look at which option combines both a light characteristic and a topmark that warn of a specific, isolated danger like a wreck • Ask yourself: which choice best matches an isolated danger that you must keep clear of, but which is well-defined and can be passed on either side if you stay at a safe distance? • Compare the colors and flashing patterns listed with the standard patterns used for lateral, safe water, special purpose, and isolated danger buoys

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which choice (if any) includes a topmark of two black spheres, and recall what that topmark means in the buoyage system • Check which light characteristic looks like that used for isolated danger marks (group flashing) rather than for lateral or special-purpose buoys • Verify whether wrecks are generally marked as isolated dangers (located but must be avoided) rather than as navigation channels or special areas