Lateral MarkIALA System
Preferred Channel to Starboard
Identification guide and characteristics for safe navigation.
Placed at a bifurcation of a channel to indicate that the preferred (main) channel is to the starboard side of the mark.
👁️ Visual Characteristics
Color Scheme
Red with one broad Green horizontal band (Region A)
Topmark
Single Red Can
Buoy Shape
Cylindrical (Can), Pillar, or Spar
💡 Night Identification (Light)
Color of Light
Red (Region A) / Green (Region B)
Light Rhythm
Composite Group Flashing Fl(2+1)
IALA Regions
The world is divided into two IALA regions (A and B). While Cardinal, Isolated Danger, Safe Water, and Special marks are the same globally, Lateral Marks have different color conventions depending on the region.
- Region A: Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Gulf and some Asian countries.
- Region B: Americas, Japan, South Korea, Philippines.