OTH Boat Crew Practice Test

How is the preferred channel determined on a marker?

The color bands on the marker indicate distance to shore.

The middle color indicates the channel side.

The topmost color determines the channel direction: green means starboard, red means port.

The key idea is that marker color coding gives you an at-a-glance cue for which side of the marker is the safe, navigable channel. The topmost color on a marker is the one that tells you the direction to pass.

If the top color is green, you should keep to the starboard (right) side as you pass, meaning the safe channel lies to your right. If the top color is red, you should keep to the port (left) side, so the safe channel is to your left. This top color rule is what lets you determine the preferred channel quickly, even when visibility is limited.

The other colors on the marker or the marker’s bottom bands can convey additional information about marker type or other details, but they don’t override the directional cue provided by the top color. The idea that any color indicates the channel or that direction must be announced isn't how markers communicate navigational preferences.

Any color indicates the channel; direction must be announced.