🔍 Key Concepts

• Lateral buoyage system (IALA B) in the United States • Differences between nun buoys and can buoys (shape, color, numbering) • “Red, right, returning” memory aid and how it applies to buoy types

💭 Think About

• First, recall what shape a nun buoy is and compare that to a can buoy. Which one is cylindrical? • Think about the rule for numbering red vs. green buoys when entering from seaward—do reds or greens carry even numbers? • When a vessel is returning from sea, which side should red nuns be kept on—port or starboard—and how does that relate to their numbering?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the difference between color and number in the lateral system: which characteristic goes with which side when returning? • Confirm the shape that specifically defines a nun buoy (conical) versus a can buoy (cylindrical). • Verify which side (port or starboard) you keep red nuns on when entering from seaward, using the “red, right, returning” rule.