🔍 Key Concepts

• Review the IALA Maritime Buoyage System and the purpose of safe water marks, lateral marks, preferred channel marks, and special marks • Recall which type of buoy is used to indicate mid-channel or fairway conditions and is safe to pass on all sides • Connect the meaning of a white light occulting Morse "A" (short-long) with the type of buoy that would use it

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: Which buoy type is intended to show that there is navigable water all around it, not just on one side? • Think about where you would most need a clear, easily recognizable Morse "A" signal: at a mid-channel/fairway location, at a junction where one channel is preferred, or at a special-purpose area? • Eliminate options that are mainly for marking the edge of a channel (port/starboard sides) or special-use areas rather than indicating general safe water.

✅ Before You Answer

• Match Morse "A" (· —) with the correct buoy type in the IALA buoyage descriptions • Verify the color pattern and topmark normally associated with the buoy that shows Morse "A"—does it fit a safe water/fairway function or a lateral/special function? • Confirm which buoy category specifically states it may exhibit a Morse "A" white light in official buoyage references before choosing.