Which statement is true about red buoys under the Inland Rules?

The statement that red buoys should be passed on your starboard side when going upstream is accurate according to the Inland Rules of navigation. These rules are designed to ensure safe and consistent navigation on waterways. The red buoys serve as navigational aids that indicate safe passage areas, and they are associated with the right side of a boat when traveling upstream. This means that if you are moving against the current, red buoys should be kept on your right (starboard) side.

When navigating downstream, the opposite is true, and the red buoys would be passed on the left (port) side. Choosing the correct side is crucial for maintaining safe watercraft navigation and avoiding collisions or groundings. Red buoys do not indicate shallow water areas, nor are they marks to be avoided; they are essential aids for commercial and recreational vessel navigation. Always paying attention to these markings can help boaters navigate effectively and safely on the water.