Lateral Mark

A navigation mark that indicates the side of a channel or recognised route.

Lateral marks use colour, shape, topmarks and light characteristics to identify the port and starboard sides in the conventional direction of buoyage. They may be floating buoys or fixed beacons, posts and piles.

The colours and shapes assigned to port and starboard differ between IALA Regions A and B, so they must be interpreted for the region and direction of buoyage shown on the chart. A mark indicates a channel side; it does not by itself guarantee adequate depth or freedom from every hazard nearby.