🔍 Key Concepts

• IALA-A lateral marks and which side has red vs. green buoys when entering from seaward • The meaning of a preferred channel mark (modified lateral mark) and how its color pattern changes • How numbering and band patterns are used on lateral vs. preferred channel marks

💭 Think About

• First recall in IALA-A, what color is used for port-hand lateral marks and what kind of numbers (odd or even) they usually carry. • For a preferred channel to port, is the buoy primarily marking the main channel or the secondary channel, and how does that affect its dominant color and stripe pattern? • Think about whether shape, numbering, or band orientation is the main feature that tells you which is the preferred side of the channel.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify what feature specifically distinguishes a preferred channel mark from an ordinary lateral mark (hint: color band pattern). • Confirm in IALA-A which side of the channel gets odd vs. even numbers when entering from seaward. • Check whether vertical vs. horizontal bands are used to show a preferred channel in the IALA system.