What do lighted buoys use in addition to lateral marker shapes and colors?

Lighted buoys utilize matching colored lights in addition to their lateral marker shapes and colors to convey important navigational information to boaters. The colors of the lights correspond with the colors of the buoy, which helps in indicating safe passage, hazards, or designated channels. For instance, red lights on buoys generally indicate a port side marker, while green lights signify a starboard side marker. This color coordination is essential for boaters to quickly identify and navigate through waterway markers, especially at night or in low visibility conditions.

The use of matching colored lights reinforces the buoy's purpose and enhances safety, as boaters can determine their position relative to navigable waters based on the visible signals provided by both the shape and color of the buoy, as well as the colored light emitted. Properly pairing the lights with the respective buoy colors ensures clarity and reduces confusion for those navigating the waterways.