BOATsmart! USA Knowledge Base

Module 05 - Navigating the Waterways

The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)

The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) runs parallel to the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. This waterway provides a route to travel by boat along the U.S. border and stretches from the New Jersey shore to Texas, at the border with Mexico.

The navigation aids marking the ICW display unique yellow symbols to distinguish them from buoys marking other waters.

Yellow triangles on navigation aids should be passed by keeping them on the starboard (right) hand of the boat.
Yellow squares on navigation aids should be passed by keeping them on the port (left) side of your boat.
A yellow horizontal band on a navigation aid provides no directional information. It simply identifies the navigation aid as marking the ICW.

Note: ICW beacons and buoys do not correspond to the colors used by the Lateral System because ICW and non-ICW routes may travel next to each other in opposite directions and share the same navigation aids. This means that when following the ICW, always navigate using the yellow symbols. Otherwise, navigate by the color of the aid itself.