🔍 Key Concepts

• IALA buoyage system – special marks and how they differ from lateral and cardinal marks • Standard color and light characteristics used to indicate purpose (e.g., special areas, cable, spoil grounds) • Difference between mark color and light color on aids to navigation

💭 Think About

• Think about what special marks are intended to indicate and how they must visually stand out from other buoys, especially at night • Ask yourself: does this type of mark ever use the same standard colors as lateral marks (red/green) or cardinal marks (black/yellow)? • Consider the typical light color assigned to special-purpose buoys in the IALA system and how mariners recognize them on a light list or chart

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the daytime color of the buoy body for a special mark in the IALA buoyage description • Check the standard light color used for special marks and compare it with the red and white options in the choices • Confirm that special marks are NOT required to have striped black and red or a red light, and see which feature is explicitly associated with them in the rules