Question 378Navigation General

70% to pass

You are sailing south on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) when you sight a red nun buoy with a yellow square painted on it. Which statement is TRUE?

A You should leave the buoy to port.
B The buoy is off station and should be ignored as a navigational mark.
C ICW traffic should not proceed beyond the buoy unless the crossing waterway is clear of all traffic.
D The waterway in that area has shoaled and the available depth of water is less than the project depth.
AI Explanation

The correct answer is A) You should leave the buoy to port. The reasoning is that a red nun buoy with a yellow square painted on it indicates a junction or bifurcation of the Intracoastal Waterway. When sailing southbound on the ICW, you should pass this type of buoy to the port (left) side to remain in the Intracoastal Waterway channel. The other options are incorrect because: B) The buoy is a valid navigational mark and should not be ignored. C) There is no requirement to wait for the crossing waterway to be clear before proceeding. D) The yellow square does not indicate shoaling or reduced water depth, just the junction of the waterway.

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