Just as in driving on the highway, signs are sometimes needed to direct traffic and show where it is safe to go. Signs on waterways are called aids to navigation. They can be buoys or fixed markers like street signs.
In the lateral system of buoyage the markers designate the sides of the chan- nel. When returning to a harbor from the sea, red markers with even numbers mark the right hand side of the channel. Green markers with odd numbers mark the left hand side. Red fixed markers are triangular with apex upward. Unlighted red buoys are called nun buoys. They are tapered with the small end up. On the other side of the channel, green fixed markers are square and the buoys called can buoys have flat tops. In channels where traffic must stay to the right, mid channel buoys mark the center of the channel. They are vertically stripped red and white.
When two channels branch, junction markers are used. They horizontally banded with red and green. The band on top represents the color of the marker as it marks the pflmary channel. Special non-lateral buoys are white with orange. They mark hazards without reference to a particular channel.
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