Direction of Buoyage

The conventional direction used to determine the port-hand and starboard-hand sides of a buoyed route.

It is generally the direction followed when approaching a harbour, river, estuary or other waterway from seaward. Where a route runs along a coast or has several branches, the competent authority determines the direction and charts may show it with a buoyage-direction symbol.

The colours and shapes assigned to port and starboard lateral marks depend on whether the area uses IALA Region A or Region B. Direction of buoyage defines the marking convention; it is not automatically the required direction of traffic or proof that the channel is safe for a particular vessel.