While sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway, if you sight a green can buoy with a yellow square painted on it, which statement is TRUE?

The correct answer indicates that when you sight a green can buoy with a yellow square while sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway, you should leave the buoy to port. This recognizes the standard buoyage system employed in the United States, where can buoys are green and represent the right side of a channel when coming from seaward.

The yellow square painted on the buoy signifies that it is part of the Intracoastal Waterway, marking a special purpose or a specific area. Since you are traveling south, standard navigation rules dictate that you should keep green can buoys on your left (port) side. This instruction helps ensure safe passage within the channel and allows other vessels to anticipate your navigation behavior, promoting safety and predictability in maritime movement.

Understanding buoy markings and their meanings is critical for effective navigation, particularly in busy waterways like the Intracoastal Waterway, which may have additional navigation aids and special purposes to consider.