🔍 Key Concepts

• Safe water mark characteristics in the IALA buoyage system (shape, colors, and topmark) • Difference between lateral marks (port/starboard) and safe water marks • What light colors are used for special marks vs. navigation channel marks

💭 Think About

• First recall what a safe water buoy looks like by day (its colors and pattern). Ask yourself: would its light color normally match that daytime pattern or be different? • Think about which light colors are used to mark the sides of a channel (port and starboard) and which colors are reserved so they are not confused with those side marks. • Eliminate any light colors that you know are associated with other specific buoy types (like special purpose buoys or lateral buoys).

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the daymark pattern and light color associated with safe water buoys in your buoyage reference diagram. • Confirm which buoy types commonly use red and green lights in the IALA system. • Check what buoy type commonly uses yellow lights and whether that is ever used for safe water buoys.