(1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish a uniform waterway marking system of aids to navigation, including regulatory markers compatible with the United States lateral system of buoyage, to which all waterway markers owned by state, local government, or private parties shall conform. The uniform waterway marking system is designed to assist the recreational boater in safe navigation and to allow the state and its political subdivisions to provide uniform regulatory information regarding vessel operation on the waters of Washington state not serviced by a marking system administered by the federal government.