Question 114Navigation General

70% to pass

Under the IALA Buoyage Systems, a cardinal mark may NOT be used to _______________.

A indicate the port and starboard sides of well-defined channels
B draw attention to a feature in the channel such as a bend, junction, bifurcation, or end of a shoal
C indicate the safe side on which to pass a danger
D indicate that the deepest water in an area is on the named side of the mark
AI Explanation

The correct answer is A) indicate the port and starboard sides of well-defined channels. Under the IALA Buoyage System, cardinal marks are used to indicate the safe side on which to pass a danger, not to mark the sides of a defined channel. Cardinal marks are positioned to show the mariner the safe water, with the cardinal points (N, E, S, W) indicating the direction of the deepest water. Options B, C, and D are all correct applications of cardinal marks, but option A is not a valid use. The IALA system reserves the use of lateral marks (port and starboard) to indicate the port and starboard sides of well-defined channels. Cardinal marks have a different purpose and should not be used for that function.

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Official Resources
USCG Navigation Rules (COLREGS) 33 CFR Navigation Rules USCG National Maritime Center
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