The red and green markers on the water are navigation aids that indicate the edges of a safe channel for boats and vessels:
- Red Markers : Indicate the starboard (right) side of the channel when entering from open water or heading upstream. Red markers have even numbers and should be kept on your right side when returning from open sea or traveling upstream. The saying "red right returning" helps remember this.
- Green Markers : Indicate the port (left) side of the channel when entering from open water or heading upstream. Green markers have odd numbers and should be kept on your left side when returning from open sea or traveling upstream.
- When heading out to sea (away from inland waters), the sides are reversed: you keep green markers on the right and red markers on the left.
- Markers with both red and green colors indicate the junction of two channels, and the color on top shows the preferred or primary channel.
These markers help boaters stay within safe channels and avoid hazards as they navigate from open water into bays, creeks, harbors, or ports, and vice versa. In summary:
- Red = Right side when returning/going upstream
- Green = Left side when returning/going upstream
- Opposite when heading out to sea
- Red and green combined marks a channel junction with the top color indicating the main channel
This system is known as the "lateral system" and is widely used in the U.S. and many other places for water navigation. If you're on a boat and heading upstream or returning from open water, keep red markers on your right and green markers on your left to stay in the safe channel.
