Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on...

🔍 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

Under the U.S. Aids to Navigation System on the Western Rivers, which is TRUE of a preferred channel buoy?

It shall be horizontally-banded red and green

It shall be solid red

It shall be vertically-striped red and white

It shall be solid green

🔍 Key Concepts

💭 Think About

✅ Before You Answer