---
title: Starboard hand buoy / red buoy / Starboard Lateral Buoy
description: A starboard hand buoy marks the starboard (right) side of a channel or where a danger is located. Starboard lights...
image: https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/courses/pcoc2021/images/starboard-hand-buoy-hr-2.png
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![Starboard hand buoy ](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/pcoc2021/images/starboard-hand-buoy-hr-2.png?width=1100&height=619&name=starboard-hand-buoy-hr-2.png)

## What is a starboard hand buoy?

- **A starboard hand buoy** marks the starboard (right) side of a channel or where a danger is located.
- It must be kept on the starboard (right) side of a pleasure craft when proceeding [upstream direction](https://aceboater.com/upstream-downstream-definition).
- It is coloured red.
- If the starboard buoy has a light, the color of the light is red.
- Its top is cone-shaped
- and if it is numbered, it bears an even number.

![Starboard buoy ](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/pcoc/starboard-hand-buoy.jpg?width=1000&height=563&name=starboard-hand-buoy.jpg)

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