SECTION : BOATING SAFETY
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BASIC RULES ON THE ROAD
WARNING
COLLISION HAZARD
Collisions between boats can cause death or serious injury. Follow the
nautical “Rules of the Road.”
The nautical rules of the road must be followed to prevent collisions
between vessels. Like traffic laws for automobiles, the operator is legally
required to follow the rules.
The following information outlines only the most basic of the nautical rules
of the road. For more information, contact your local U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary or local maritime authority.
The operator is legally required to follow the rules. The following information
outlines only the most basic of the nautical “Rules of the Road.” For more
information, contact your local USCG Auxiliary.
Aids to Navigation
Learn to recognize the different buoys and day markers; they are the
signposts of the waterways. The United States Aids to Navigation System
(USATONS) is the primary marking system used on inland water, coastal
waters and rivers in the United States. This system is maintained by the
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
There are two primary marking systems in use in the U.S.: the Uniform State
Waterway Marking System (USWMS), used on inland waters and maintained
by each state, and the Federal Waterway Marking System (FWMS), used
on coastal waters and rivers and maintained by the USCG. In addition, the
FWMS has two modified systems: the Western River Buoyage, and the
Intercoastal Waterway Buoyage. Be sure to check with local authorities on
the buoyage system in use.
The type of hazard/warning buoys and markers depends on the area of
jurisdiction. Check with local boating authorities.
USWMS System
In the USWMS Lateral System, well-defined channels are marked with red
and black buoys. Lateral means the sides of the channel are marked and
the boat should pass between them. The USWMS Cardinal System is used
when there is no well-defined channel or where an obstruction may be
approached from more than one direction. With the cardinal system:
• Pass north or east of BLACK-TOPPED WHITE buoy.
• Pass south or west of RED-TOPPED WHITE buoy.
• RED and WHITE VERTICALLY STRIPED buoy indicates boat should pass
outside of the buoy (away from shore).
FWMS System
The FWMS Lateral System is for use on navigable waters except Western
Rivers and Intercoastal Waterways. The markings on these buoys are
oriented from the perspective of being entered from seaward (the boater
is going toward the port). This means that red buoys are passed on the
starboard (right) side of the vessel when proceeding from open water into
port, and green buoys to the port (left) side.
The right side (starboard) of the channel is marked with RED, even
numbered buoys.
The left (port) side of the channel is marked with GREEN, odd numbered buoys.
The middle of the channel is marked with RED and WHITE vertically striped
buoys; pass close to these buoys.
Obstructions, channel junctions, etc. are marked with RED and GREEN
horizontally striped buoys. A RED band at the top means the preferred
channel is to the left of the buoy; a GREEN top band means the preferred
channel is to the right of the buoy.
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