WESTERN RIVERS MARKING SYSTEM

The Western Rivers Marking System is a variation of the standard U.S. Aids to Navigation System and is found on the Mississippi River and tributaries above Baton Rouge, and on certain other rivers which flow toward the Gulf of Mexico.

• Red daybeacons, lights, and buoys mark the starboard banks and limits of channels as vessels "return from sea" or proceed upstream.
• Green daybeacons, lights, and buoys mark the port banks and channels while going upstream.

• Buoys are not numbered.
• Passing daybeacons are not numbered but normally have an attached "Mile Marker" board that indicates the distance in statute miles from a fixed point (normally the river mouth).
• Diamond-shaped non-lateral dayboards (checkered red-and-white or green-and-white), similar to those used in the U.S. Aids to Navigation System, are used as Crossing Daybeacons where the river channel crosses from one bank to the other.
• Lights on green buoys and on beacons with green daymarks show a single flash, either green or white.
• Lights on red buoys and on beacons with red daymarks show a double flash [Group Flashing (2)], which may be red or white.
• Isolated danger marks and safe watermarks are not used.
  

Western Rivers Marking System (As Seen Entering From Seaward)

Port Side or Right Descending Bank - Green or White Lights

Center	Lighted Buoy	Can	Passing Daybeacon	Crossing Daybeacon

Starboard Side or Left Descending Bank - Red or White Lights

Center	Lighted Buoy	Can	Passing Daybeacon	Crossing Daybeacon

Preferred Channel - Mark Junctions and Obstructions Composite Group Flashing (2)

Preferred Channel to Starboard Topmost Band Green			Preferred Channel to Port Topmost Band Red
Lighted Buoy	Can	Passing Daybeacon	Lighted Buoy	Nun	Passing Daybeacon

River Bank Names

When traveling downstream the banks are named "right" and "left".

The right bank has green aids and the left bank has red aids, thus the west bank of the Mississippi is its right bank and it has green aids.

To avoid confusion, commercial river traffic often calls the right bank the right descending bank and the left bank the left descending bank, expressed in this way, leaving no room for doubt.

Mile Markers

These markers are some of the most useful aids on a river. They are attached to daybeacons or displayed in other easily seen places. Mile Markers also help a vessel operator locate his/her position on river charts.

River Buoys

River buoys do not have letters or numbers and are not usually shown on river charts.

Private Aids to Navigation

A Private Aid to Navigation is a buoy, light or daybeacon owned and maintained by any individual or organization other than a government entity.

No one may place a buoy in the water without approval. Contact your local USCG District Aids to Navigation Office or corresponding state office for application process information.

Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) on the Internet

The USCG publishes the Local Notice to Mariners, (LNM), via the Internet at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov.