🔍 Key Concepts

• IALA-A lateral marks (port and starboard) and their colors/shapes • Topmark shapes and what they indicate on lateral buoys • Differences between light characteristics and physical shape of the buoy

💭 Think About

• First, recall the standard color and basic shape for a port‑hand lateral mark in the IALA-A system—what should it look like by day? • Then, think about what type of topmark a port-hand buoy carries versus a starboard-hand buoy—are they the same or different? • Consider whether the light’s color and flashing pattern must match the physical side of the channel (port vs starboard), or if certain combinations are not allowed.

✅ Before You Answer

• Confirm the standard daymark characteristics of an IALA-A port-hand buoy: color, shape, and topmark. • Check which topmark shape (cone vs cylinder/can) is associated with which side of the channel. • Verify that light characteristics (color and flashing group) can vary, but must still be consistent with the buoy’s lateral meaning.