*The Lateral Buoy.
Function and Classification
Side signs are distributed according to the direction of the channel to indicate the boundaries on both sides of the channel; or marking recommended waterways; Specific shipping lanes may also be marked. Side signs include the left and right sides of the channel, and the left and right sides of the recommended channel.
Port hand buoy and Starboard hand buoy.
The left and right sides of the channel are located on the left and right sides of the channel, respectively, marking the left and right limits of the channel. Ships traveling along the channel should have the left and right sides of the channel marked on the starboard and starboard sides of the ship.
*The features of Port hand buoy and Starboard hand buoy.
| Feature | Port Hand Buoy | Starboard Hand Buoy |
| Color | Red | Green |
| Shape | Can shape or a pillar or bacilliform buoy with topmark. | Conical shape or a pillar or bacilliform buoy with topmark. |
| Topmark | Single red can shape | single green conical shape |
| Flash Rhythm | Red light, flash once, period 4s | Green light,flash once, period 4s |
| Red light,flash twice, period 6s | Green light,flash twice, period 6s | |
| Red light, flash three times, period 10s | Green light, flash three times, period 10s | |
| Red light, continuous flashing. | Green light, continuous flashing. |
*Port hand buoy and Starboard hand buoy for recommendation.
The port hand buoy and the starboard hand buoy of the recommended channel are set at the fork of the channel, or can be set at a specific channel, and when the ship sails along the channel, the left side of the recommended channel is marked with the recommended channel or the specific channel is on its right side; The right side of the recommended channel is marked with the recommended channel or the specific channel on its left side, please check the pictures below:
*The features of Port hand buoy and Starboard hand buoy for recommendation.
| Feature | Port Hand Buoy for recommendation | Starboard Hand Buoy for recommendation |
| Color | Red with a wide green horizontal band in the middle | Green with A wide red horizontal band in the middle |
| Shape | Can shape or a pillar or bacilliform buoy with topmark. | Conical shape or a pillar or bacilliform buoy with topmark. |
| Topmark | Single red can shape | single green conical shape |
| Flash Rhythm | Red light, Mixed simulcasts twice plus once, period 6s | Green light,Mixed simulcasts twice plus once, period 6s |
| Red light, Mixed simulcasts twice plus once, period 9s | Green light,Mixed simulcasts twice plus once, period 9s | |
| Red light, Mixed simulcasts twice plus once, period 12s | Green light, Mixed simulcasts twice plus once, period 12s |
* Cardinal Buoys.
1)The Cardinal Buoys are located in the four quadrants of north, east, south and west centered on the dangerous object or danger zone, that is, the true direction of northwest to northeast, northeast to southeast, southeast to southwest, southwest to northwest, and the corresponding quadrant is named as the North cardinal buoys, the East cardinal buoys, the South cardinal buoys, and the West cardinal buoys. Each is marked as navigable water on the eponymous side of the subject. Cardinal buoys can also be placed at turns in the channel, at branch junctions or at the end of a shoal.
2)The North cardinal buoy is located in the north of the dangerous substance or danger zone, and the ship shall pass through the north of the target; The East cardinal buoy is located in the east of the dangerous substance or danger zone, and the ship shall pass through the east of the subject; The south cardinal buoy is located in the south of the dangerous goods or danger zone, and the ship shall pass through the south of the subject; The West cardinal buoy is located in the west of the dangerous goods or danger zone, and ships shall pass through the west of the subject. please check the picture below:
* The features of cardinal buoys.
| Features | North cardinal buoys | East cardinal buoys | South cardinal buoys | West cardinal buoys |
| color | black on top yellow on the buttom | black with a wide yellow horizontal band in the middle | Yellow on top black on the buttom | yellow with a wide black horizontal band in the middle |
| shape | a pillar or rod buoy with topmark | |||
| topmark | two cones set vertically up and down | |||
| the tops of the cone are all up | the bottom of the cones are opposite | the tops of the cone are all down | the tops of the cone are opposite. | |
| lamp rhythm | white light,flash quickly | white light, flash 3 times quickly, period 5s | white light,flash 6 times quickly plus 1 flash longer,period 10s | white light, flash 9 times quickly, period 10s |
| white light, flash quickly | white light, flash 3 times quickly, period 10s | white light,flash 6 times quickly plus 1 flash longer,period 15s | white light, flash 9 times quickly, period 15s | |
