How do US Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) channel markers differ from standard marine navigation aids?

The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) runs just inland and parallel to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Manasquan, New Jersey to the Mexican border. The marine Aids to Navigation of the ICW closely resemble the green and red buoys and beacons of the standard red and green lateral channel marking US system.

When operating in the ICW, the color of the Aids will typically correspond to the US standard scheme (Red, Right, Returning). The yellow squares, triangles, and bands attached to the ICW aids (channel markers) are the primary ICW indicators. Boaters need to understand these markings to safely navigate the ICW to stay in the federally regulated channel.

GPS has moved into marine navigation on all levels of boating and is remarkable in terms of positional accuracy, detail of surroundings, and defining services along the way. Irrespective of this, most ICW boaters choose to have a combination of GPS and paper charts when planning their daily travels along "The Ditch" as an overview and backup.