🔍 Key Concepts

• Western Rivers Aids to Navigation System and how it differs slightly from the standard IALA B U.S. lateral system • Meaning of a preferred channel buoy (also called junction buoy) and how its colors/pattern show the preferred channel at a split • Differences between horizontal bands, vertical stripes, and solid colors on buoys

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: when a channel splits, which buoy type marks which side is the preferred (main) channel, and how is that shown by color pattern? • Compare what you know about junction/preferred channel buoys in the general U.S. system with any special Western Rivers differences: is the COLOR SCHEME changed or mostly the SHAPE/TOPMARK? • Look at each answer and think: which patterns are typically used for safe water or special marks versus lateral/preferred channel marks?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify from the Coast Pilot or USCG Light List how a preferred channel buoy is described for Western Rivers specifically • Check which buoy type is associated with safe water (fairway) and eliminate that pattern from the choices • Confirm whether horizontal bands or vertical stripes are normally used for preferred channel buoys in U.S. systems