Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a)
Lateral system. Prior to establishing a lateral system of marking on any
waterway, a base or outlet and a source or head of navigation shall be first
established thereon. Upon waters which have no singular inlet or outlet,
arbitrary assumptions may be made to establish one location as the base or
outlet and another as the source or head of navigation.
(b) Starboard side. When proceeding from the
base or outlet towards the source or head of navigation, red navigation aids
shall mark the starboard or right side of the channel, and boats proceeding
towards the head of navigation shall keep such aids on their starboard or right
side. All such navigation aids shall conform to the following general
specifications:
(1) Color. Signal
red.
(2) Numbering. Starting at the
base or outlet and ending at the head or inlet, even-numbered buoys only shall
be used to mark the right or starboard side of the channel, and from such
starting point shall advance in even numerical progression to the source or
head of navigation. Numbering requirements shall be at the discretion of the
commissioner.
(3) Lighting. Red
flashing lights may be installed and shall conform to light characteristics as
specified by the commissioner depending upon the location of the navigation
aid. Unlighted aids shall be equipped with red reflective material on the
uppermost part of the aid. The type and extent of reflective material must be
approved by the commissioner.
(4)
Shape. Spar, conical (nun), pillar or structural shapes may be used.
(5) Construction. Types of construction shall
be approved on an individual basis considering the location of the aid and
other factors.
(c) Port
side. When proceeding from the base or outlet towards the source or head of
navigation, green navigation aids shall mark the port or left side of the
channel, and boats proceeding toward the head of navigation shall keep such
aids on their port or left side. All such navigation aids shall conform to the
following specifications:
(1) Color.
Green.
(2) Numbering. Starting at
the base or outlet and ending at the head or inlet, odd-numbered buoys only
shall be used to mark the left or port side of the channel, and from such
starting point shall advance in odd numerical progression to the source or head
of navigation. Numbering requirements shall be at the discretion of the
commissioner.
(3) Lighting.
Flashing green lights may be installed and shall conform to light
characteristics as specified by the commissioner depending upon the location of
the navigation aid. Unlighted aids shall be equipped with green reflective
material on the uppermost part of the aid. The type and extent of reflective
material must be approved by the commissioner.
(4) Shape. Spar, can, pillar or structural
shapes may be used.
(5)
Construction. Types of construction shall be approved on an individual basis
considering the location of the aid and other factors.
(d) Federal lateral system. The State
navigation aid system may be further supplemented by the use of aids included
in the Federal lateral system, such as midchannel and junction buoys. When such
additional aids are used, they shall have the same significance as established
in the Federal lateral system of buoyage. Aids placed on navigable waters of
the United States shall be in accord with current Federal
regulations.
(e) General
obstruction marker. A general obstruction marker shall have no lateral
significance and may be used in place of, or in addition to, the aids in the
lateral system. This aid may be used to mark obstructions projecting from shore
or wherever found in otherwise navigable waters. When this aid is located near
shore, boats shall not pass between the aid and the shore. One or more aids
shall be used to mark obstructions which are not in close proximity to shore,
or where navigable channels exist between the obstruction and the shore,
depending upon the size and character of the obstruction. In every case, there
shall be a sufficient number of aids installed to accurately indicate the
extent of the obstruction. Boats shall stay clear of areas in which these aids
are installed, and shall not pass between such navigation aids when they are
located close together. General obstruction markers shall conform to the
following specifications:
(1) Shape. Can, at
least 1 1/2 feet from waterline to top of buoy if floating, or if can is fixed
on a stanchion, it must be at least one foot in height.
(2) Color. The upper one fourth of the aid
and the lower one fourth of the aid shall be international orange in color. The
bottom stripe of orange shall show at least three inches above the waterline.
The center section shall be white.
(3) Lighting. Flashing white lights may be
installed and shall conform to light characteristics as specified by the
commissioner, depending upon the location of the navigation aid and other
factors. Unlighted aids shall be equipped with orange reflective material on
the uppermost part of the aid. The type and extent of reflective material must
be approved by the commissioner.
(4) Symbol. In the center of the white
section, equally spaced, on not less than two sides of the buoy, there shall be
a symbol in the shape of a diamond, to be of a good proportion and to cover an
area of at least three fourths of the height of the white section. The symbol
shall be at least one inch in thickness and painted international orange in
color and, in the center thereof, running horizontally, there shall be printed
in block form the word DANGER. The letters shall be black in color, and of good
proportion in relation to the size of the symbol.
(5) Numbering. Since this aid has no lateral
significance, no numbering is permitted. However, a letter, or a combination of
letters may be used to identify the location of the aid on a chart.
(6) Construction. Types of construction shall
be approved on an individual basis, considering the location of the aid and
other factors.
(f)
Supplementary obstruction markers may be used to enhance the effectiveness of
one or more general obstruction markers. Supplementary obstruction markers
shall conform to the following specifications:
(1) Shape. Spar or cylindrical, at least 1
1/2 feet from waterline to top of buoy if floating, or if spar or cylinder is
fixed on a stanchion, it must be at least one foot in height and the bottom of
the shape at least three feet above the waterline.
(2) Color. White with two-inch wide
horizontal international orange stripes showing six inches of white in between
such orange stripes, and showing at least two of such stripes above the
waterline.
(3) Lighting. Lighting
and/or reflective material shall conform to the rules and regulations for
general obstruction markers, paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
(4) Symbol. No symbol is required, but if a
symbol is used it shall conform to the rules and regulations for general
obstruction markers, paragraph (e)(4) of this section.
(5) Numbering. Same as general obstruction
markers, paragraph (e)(5) of this section.
(6) Construction. Same as general obstruction
markers, paragraph (e)(6) of this section.
