What type of marks are used to indicate fairways and mid-channel marks?

Safe-water marks are specifically designed to indicate that navigable waters are available and denote the centerline of a channel or fairway. These marks are typically placed at the entrance to a channel or along the fairway itself to guide mariners safely through water where depths are sufficient.

Safe-water marks are easily identifiable, often colored red and white, and may feature a spherical topmark. They are crucial for navigation, ensuring that vessels can safely traverse without running aground or straying from designated water routes.

On the other hand, range marks are used for aligning vessels while navigating a channel but do not necessarily indicate safe water or fairways. Navigational buoys can serve multiple purposes but are not exclusively associated with fairways, as they can mark various hazards or areas. Navigation lights serve primarily to signal vessels at night or in poor visibility conditions but do not indicate safe water or channels in the same manner as safe-water marks.