Final answer:
The Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy marks new sunken wrecks and features a characteristic light pattern and a yellow cross on top. Marine buoys can acquire biofouling from various marine species over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question involves understanding the purpose and features of the Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy, which is a navigational aid meant to mark the location of a newly sunken wreck. These buoys commonly feature specific light patterns, such as Occ. Fl(1+1) 1s, which is an occulting flashing light sequence of one plus one every second. The top mark typically includes a yellow cross, indicating that the buoy should not be passed closely.
While the question does not focus on biological accumulation on these buoys, it's notable that marine buoys, including emergency wreck marking buoys, can become fouled by marine organisms, as seen in the historical account by Abbott (1961). Abbott reported that after a marine buoy had been stranded on a beach in the Carolinas, it was found with a tropical assemblage of species including bivalves Chama, Spondylus, and Pinctada, and later accumulated a circular band of small blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) after drifting northwards.