What light characteristic should lateral buoys that only mark the left or right sides of a channel never display?

Lateral buoys are utilized to indicate the edges of navigable channels, specifically guiding mariners as they pass through. These buoys follow a color-coding system defined by navigation rules. Buoys marking the left side (red) and the right side (green) of the channel are designated to display specific light characteristics.

The characteristic that lateral buoys should never display is a composite group flashing light. This type of light signal, which consists of two or more groups of flashes followed by darkness, is typically used in maritime navigation for marks that indicate safe water or specific obstacles, but it does not pertain to lateral buoys which serve a singular directional purpose. The flashing patterns signify different meanings in navigation, and the simplicity and clarity of lateral buoy markings are crucial for safe passage through channels.

Therefore, since lateral buoys aim to clearly designate the port and starboard sides of a channel without introducing complex light patterns, the composite group flashing light is not an appropriate characteristic for these buoys.