🔍 Key Concepts

• Western Rivers Aids to Navigation differences from standard IALA-B sea buoyage • Meaning and appearance of a preferred channel buoy (junction buoy) when the preferred channel is to starboard • How light characteristics and color bands indicate the preferred channel in U.S. systems

💭 Think About

• Think about what a preferred channel buoy looks like when it marks that the main or preferred route is to starboard, and you are leaving it to port while going downstream. • Consider how the color pattern (which color is on top) relates to which side is preferred, and whether this changes between standard U.S. IALA-B and Western Rivers. • Ask yourself: when such a buoy is lighted, what light color and flash pattern is associated with a preferred channel where the top band is red?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify how a Western Rivers preferred channel buoy is shown on the chart and in the Light List (top band color, shape, and meaning). • Confirm which type of buoy uses a composite group flashing light characteristic in U.S. Aids to Navigation. • Double‑check whether a preferred channel buoy with a red upper band, when lighted, shows a red light or some other color.