Final answer:
A preferred-channel buoy may be lettered, spherical, and showing a white light. They are used to indicate the preferred route for vessels to navigate through a channel or waterway.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is option D. A preferred-channel buoy may be lettered, spherical, and showing a white light. Preferred-channel buoys are used to indicate the preferred route for vessels to navigate through a channel or waterway.
They usually have letters or numbers on them to mark specific locations or to convey navigational information to the mariners. They are also spherical in shape and may show a white light for visibility during nighttime or low visibility conditions.
The correct answer is option D, all of the above. A preferred-channel buoy, used in maritime navigation, can display various characteristics. Such a buoy may be lettered with letters from the alphabet to convey specific information or to distinguish it from other buoys.
It could also be spherical in shape, which is one of the many shapes used to indicate specific navigational information based on the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) buoyage system.
Additionally, a preferred-channel buoy may show a white light to enhance its visibility during nighttime or foggy conditions.
Buoys are critical components of the marine navigation system and are designed to help vessels safely navigate through preferred channels.