What color is typically associated with a special mark buoy?

In the IALA Maritime Buoyage System, special mark buoys are designated by their yellow color. These buoys serve specific purposes, such as marking off underwater cables, indicating the limits of no anchor zones, or designating areas of special interest. The use of yellow is standardized to ensure that mariners can easily identify these marks and understand their significance while navigating.

The clarity and consistency of buoy colors are critical for safe navigation, and yellow's association with special marks helps prevent confusion with other navigational aids that use red or green to indicate lateral or isolated danger. This clear differentiation enables vessels to operate safely and effectively in a variety of maritime environments, ensuring that mariners maintain awareness of important navigational information.