Aids to Navigation
Aids to Navigation are placed along coasts and navigable waters as guides to mark safe
water and to assist mariners in determining their position in relation to land and hidden
dangers. Each aid to navigation is used to provide specific information.
Several aids to navigation are usually used together to form a local aid to navigation
system that helps the mariner follow natural and improved channels. Such aids to
navigation also provide a continuous system of charted marks for coastal piloting.
Individual aids to navigation are used to mark landfall from seaward, and to mark isolated
dangers.
Lateral markers are buoys or beacons that indicate the port and starboard sides of a route
to be followed. Virtually all U.S. lateral marks follow the traditional 3R rule of
"red, right, returning". This means, when returning from sea, keep red marks on
the righthand (starboard) side of the vessel. Bear in mind, however, that travel on
the ICW is considered to be "returning from sea" when traveling in a clockwise
direction around the U.S.
| Mariners must NOT rely on buoys alone for determining
their position. Storms and wave action can cause buoys to move. |
Lateral Aids
Lateral aids marking the sides of channels as seen when entering from seaward.
| Do not tie up to Aids to Navigation, it is dangerous and
illegal. |
Information and Regulatory Markers
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