About
Lateral Marks
Lateral marks
Lateral marks are important navigational aids in maritime travel, serving as visual guides to help ships safely navigate through waterways. These distinctive marks are often found in the form of buoys or beacons and play a critical role in indicating the sides of a navigable channel. They come in two distinct colours: red and green.
The purpose of these lateral marks is straightforward but crucial. Red lateral marks are placed on the left (port) side of a navigational channel when approaching from the open sea, while green lateral marks signify the right (starboard) side. By following these color-coded markers, mariners can easily determine their position within the channel. This information is vital for safe navigation, as it helps ships avoid hazards such as shallow waters or submerged obstacles like rocks or shoals. Essentially, lateral marks act as a clear road map on the water, ensuring that vessels stay on the correct course, even in challenging conditions or unfamiliar territories.
Region A Vs Region B
There are 2 International Association of Marine Aids and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) systems in use worldwide.
• Region A comprises nations in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, parts of Africa and most of Asia other than the Philippines, Japan and Korea.
• Region B comprises nations in North America, Central America and South America, Philippines, Japan and Korea.
The only real difference is that Region A has red markers on the port side and green markers on the starboard side when travelling upstream and region B has them on the opposite side
Region A: Green to Green when going up stream. Green to Red when Seas a head.