What color marks the Intercoastal Waterways (ICW)?

The Intercoastal Waterways (ICW) are marked primarily by yellow buoys and markers, which serve to guide vessels along the designated navigational routes. These yellow markers are distinct and significant, as they indicate the boundaries of the navigable channels, and they help maintain safe navigation through areas where the waterway may be narrow or where there might be other hazards.

In the context of navigation, different colors on buoys and markers signify various meanings. While red and green are typically used for lateral markers along the U.S. coasts to indicate safe passage (with red marking the right side when entering from open water), yellow is specifically reserved for identifying the ICW. Therefore, understanding the significance of yellow as a marker for the ICW is essential for safe and effective navigation in these waters.

The other colors, such as red and green, do not indicate the ICW specifically but rather relate to conventional aids to navigation along coastal systems, which is why they are not applicable to this question regarding the ICW.