Module 16 - Pilotage

Lateral Marks

Lateral marks define the edges of a navigable channel. When entering harbour (coming from seaward), the convention for Region A is: red marks (can shape, red light) are on your PORT side, green marks (conical shape, green light) are on your STARBOARD side.

The preferred channel mark (modified lateral) has horizontal bands. A red-green-red mark indicates the preferred channel is to starboard. A green-red-green mark indicates the preferred channel is to port.

  • Entering harbour (from seaward): Red = Port, Green = Starboard
  • Port (red): can shape, even numbers
  • Starboard (green): conical shape, odd numbers
  • Preferred channel marks have horizontal bands

Watch for this: When LEAVING harbour, the marks swap sides — red will be on starboard and green on port. The 'entering from seaward' direction is defined on the chart.

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