---
title: Bifurcation buoy
description: A bifurcation buoy is used to mark the point where a channel divises in to branches.   It's a buoy with both red and green bands.
image: https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/courses/usa2024/images/images-transparentes/bifurcation-buoy-hr-2.png
---

## What is a bifurcation buoy?

A bifurcation buoy is used to mark the point where a channel devises in to branches. You may pass this buoy on either side ([port or starboard side](https://aceboater.com/starboard-port-side-definition)) when moving upstream. **It's coloured with red and green bands. **The main or preferred channel is shown by the color of the top band.

![Bifurcation buoy](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/pcoc2021/images/bifurcation-buoy-hr-2.png?width=1100&height=619&name=bifurcation-buoy-hr-2.png)

Bifurcation buoys are used at junctions (where one channel splits into two channels). Naturally, one of the two channels will be wider, deeper, and safer; it is the main channel. The purpose of the bifurcation junction buoy is to indicate which channel is the main channel.

![bifurcation buoy purpose](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/pcoc/bouee-de-bifurcation.jpg?width=750&height=1000&name=bouee-de-bifurcation.jpg)

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