Which buoy is yellow and marks features or zones?

• A. Yellow, marks features or zones
• B. Red/green stripes, indicates main channel
• C. Red/white vertical stripes, mid-channel
• D. Cylindrical, green, port side

Answer: (A)

Yellow buoys are special purpose marks. Their job is to alert you to features or zones rather than to show the edges of a channel. When you see one, you should check the chart or local notices to learn exactly what feature is being indicated—things like restricted areas, cables or pipelines, mooring zones, or other special information. The color is the clue: yellow stands out specifically to signal information you need to pay attention to, not to guide you along the main navigable route. The other colors described in the options point to channel guidance or general navigation aids (red and green bands for the sides of the channel, red/white for safe water or mid-channel indications, green cylindrical for a port-side mark). Those marks are about where to travel in relation to the channel, not about marking a feature or zone.