Fairway Mark

A safe water mark used to identify a channel centreline, approach or landfall.

Under the IALA buoyage system, the mark has red-and-white vertical stripes and may carry a single red spherical topmark. Its permitted white-light characteristics identify it as safe water rather than a lateral or isolated-danger mark.

A fairway mark is often placed at the seaward end of a channel or on its centreline, but its exact purpose is stated on the chart. Navigable water around the mark does not guarantee adequate depth for every vessel or remove the need to account for traffic and nearby hazards.