What might a mariner use to identify a buoy's purpose while navigating?

A mariner can effectively identify a buoy's purpose while navigating primarily by interpreting its lettering. The lettering on a buoy often includes alphanumeric codes, which may indicate the specific function of the buoy, such as its identification number and its type (e.g., safe water buoy, regulatory buoy, etc.). This information is essential for safe navigation as it provides clarity on the buoy's role in the waterway.

For example, regulatory buoys have specific symbols and letters that inform mariners of rules and regulations, while navigational buoys with distinct markings correspond to navigational charts that guide vessels. Thus, understanding buoy lettering is a critical aspect of maritime navigation, as it ensures that mariners follow established navigation protocols.

While buoy size, color, and shape also play important roles in identifying buoys, they primarily provide secondary or supplementary information about their purpose. Size may indicate the buoy's importance or area of placement, color is often used in conjunction with navigational rules to suggest meaning (for instance, red indicating danger), and shape may denote the type of buoy. However, the lettering provides the most direct and unambiguous identification of a buoy's specific purpose.