If lighted, what color light does a mooring buoy show?

A mooring buoy, when lighted, emits a white light. This is an important feature to help distinguish it from other types of navigational aids, such as channel buoys. The reason the light is white is to signify to mariners that it serves a specific purpose related to mooring vessels securely, without indicating navigational danger like red or green lights might.

The red and green lights are used for specific navigational purposes: red lights indicate port (left) side when returning from sea, while green lights indicate starboard (right) side. Mooring buoys do not carry these colors as their primary function is not to guide vessels through a channel but rather to provide a spot for vessels to moor safely. Therefore, illuminating a mooring buoy with white light maintains a clear understanding of its function and ensures that it is distinguishable from other navigational aids.