While preparing to enter a Brazilian port, you see ahead a red and green horizontally-striped buoy. The upper band is red. What action should you take?

Correct Answer: Option A — Alter course to leave the buoy to starboard.

Brazil utilizes the IALA-B buoyage system. A red and green horizontally-striped buoy with the red band on top indicates a preferred channel with the primary channel to starboard when entering from seaward, requiring an alteration of course accordingly.