(a) A waterway marker may be displayed as a sign on a fixed support, as a buoy bearing a symbol on its surface, or as a sign mounted on a buoy.

(b) When a buoy is used to carry a symbol on its surface, it will be white, with a band of international orange at the top and a band of international orange above the water line at the bottom.

(c) A buoy whose sole purpose is to carry a sign above it will be marked with three bands of international orange alternating with two bands of white, each band occupying approximately one-fifth of the total area of the buoy above the water line, except where the sign itself carries orange bands; however, nothing in these regulations will be construed to prohibit the mounting of a sign on a buoy which has been placed for a purpose other than that of carrying a sign.

(d) When symbols are placed on signs, a suitable white background may be used outside the symbol.