Safe Water Marker - Obstruction Marker - Mooring Buoys
What are safe water markers?
The Safe Water Mark, also commonly referred to as a “Mid-Channel Buoy,” “Fairway Buoy”
These are white with red vertical stripes and indicate unobstructed water on all sides.
What are mooring buoys?
These are white with a blue horizontal band. They are usually placed in marinas and other areas where vessels are allowed to anchor. These are the only buoys you may legally tie up to.
Western Rivers System
Found only on the Mississippi River and its tributaries as defined by the U.S. Coast Guard in Rule 3 of the COLREGs. These aids to navigation are not numbered as in IALA-B system. Numbers indicate mileage from a fixed point. Lights on green aids show a single-flash which may be green or white. Lights on red aids show a group-flash which may be red or white. Diamond-shaped crossing dayboards, red or green as appropriate, are used to indicate where the river channel crosses one bank to the other.
Uniform State Waterway Marking System (USWMS)
On bodies of water wholly within state boundaries and not navigable to the sea, each state is responsible for establishing and maintaining aids to navigation. A uniform system of aids and regulatory markers has been agreed to by all states.
Divers’ Flags
Alpha flag & Diver-Down flag
Divers’ Flag indicates that scuba divers or snorkelers are operating in the area. Stay well clear of this flag. Many states have specific distance-away requirements from 100 to 300 feet. Check your state regulations.
Rigid Alpha Flag is flown by a vessel engaged in diving operations. This flag does not substitute for the diver-down flag above in states that require the diver-down flag. You will usually see both flags in use. The alpha flag indicates that the vessel is restricted in ability to maneuver, in this case due to the nature of its work.
