If you’re new to sailing, all the specialist words can feel like learning a second language. Terms like bow, stern, aft, and especially port and starboard, can leave you scratching your head. But mastering the basic terminology isn’t just about sounding like a seasoned sailor. It’s a matter of safety.
At Remitly, we know how important clear communication is. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what these terms mean and how to remember port and starboard. Once we’re done, you’ll not only understand port and starboard, but you’ll be able to use them with confidence every time you sail.
What do port and starboard mean?
You may already know that port and starboard refer to the left and right sides of a ship. But this idea can be misleading. After all, left and right change if you turn around and face the other way. Port and starboard, on the other hand, are fixed maritime navigation terms that never change, no matter which way you’re facing.
The port side of the vessel is the left side when you’re facing forward, toward the bow, or front of the ship. Starboard means the right side of the vessel when facing forward.
These terms are relative to the vessel, not to the person saying them. So even if you turn around and face the stern, or the back of the boat, port is still the ship’s left-hand side, and starboard is still the right. If you’re facing the stern, port will be on your right, and starboard will be on your left.
This is essential for safe communication at sea. On a busy deck or during a manoeuvre, using left or right can be confusing, as crewmembers may be facing different directions. Saying “turn to port” or “secure the starboard line” lets everyone know immediately what side of the vessel you’re talking about. These precise and logical directions help to keep operations coordinated and everybody safe.
The history behind port and starboard
Sailing is rooted in ancient tradition, and the terms of port and starboard are no different. The term starboard comes from the Old English word steorbord, meaning “steering side.”
In ancient ships, the steering oar was mounted on the right-hand side near the stern. That’s because most sailors, then and now, were right-handed.
The steering oar would get in the way when ships tried to dock, and so they would tend to dock with the opposite side against the port. Originally, this side was called larboard, which came from the term “lade board,” meaning the loading side. Even today, ships, trucks, and cargo planes use documents called “bills of lading” in reference to this tradition.
But, as you might have noticed, starboard and larboard sound pretty similar. Imagine trying to tell the difference between one and the other during a howling wind or on a large ship during manoeuvres, and you’ll instantly see the problem.
So where did “port” come from?
Britain leads the way
At least as early as 1543, the High Court of Admiralty Examinations was using the term “port” to refer to the left side of the ship. In 1844, the British Admiralty made it official, and since Britain was the world’s foremost maritime power, the word soon spread around the world. These days, the same terms are used for planes and even spaceships, and all because most Old English sailors were right-handed.
Easy ways to remember port and starboard
For beginners, it might feel tricky to remember port and starboard when left and right seem so much more natural. However, there are a few memory tricks that can help you.
Handy words and phrases
One popular trick is to remember that port wine is red. By international law, boats carry a red navigation light on their port side and a green one on the starboard side, so remembering that port wine is red can help you remember that the port side is the left side of the vessel.
You could also memorize the phrase, “There is no red port left in the bottle.” This combines the word ‘left’ with the color red and the word “left” to help you remember which side of the boat is which.
Another method is the four-letter rule. The words “port” and “left” each have four letters, so you can use this to remember that port always means left when facing forward on the vessel. Starboard and right, on the other hand, both have more than four letters.
Stick with the visuals
If you’re more of a visual learner, imagine yourself standing on the boat and steering. If you’re facing the pointy end of the boat, port will be on your left side, and starboard on your right.
Other people find it helpful to picture docking at the harbor. Boats dock on the port side.
Or think about the last time you got onto a plane. You’ve probably never gotten onto a plane from the starboard side, only the port side. That’s the left side if you’re facing the direction the plane flies in. When you board the plane, regardless of whether you use a jetway or staircase, the nose of the plane is always to your left.
Whichever trick makes sense to you, remember that practice makes perfect. Practice using port and starboard instead of left and right in conversation, and it’ll soon become as natural to you as night and day.
Port and starboard navigation lights
We mentioned earlier how navigation lights are an important part of boating. These maritime navigation terms become especially important when operating a vessel at night or in low light. The colored lights on a ship aren’t decorative. Instead, they’re an internationally standardized safety system to help sailors identify a boat’s location, direction of travel, and right-of-way.
Lights are the law
International maritime law says that every vessel must display a red light on the port side and a green light on the starboard side. Because starboard and port never change relative to a boat’s bow, the color of light you see can tell you what direction a boat is going in.
If you see a green light, you’re looking at the vessel’s starboard side. If you see red, you’re looking at its port side. If you see both together, it usually means the vessel is heading straight toward you, so it’s a good idea to get out of the way.
A similar rule applies when returning to a port from open water. You’re supposed to keep the red channel markers on your right/ starboard side, and the green markers on your left/ port side. This helps to avoid collisions, especially in busy waterways. Boating terminology uses the term “red right returning” to describe this rule. In other words, you need to keep the red marker on your right when returning to port.
These colored lights are also helpful when approaching a port at night. Sometimes, the channel into the port isn’t obvious. It will be between the green and red lights, but if you can only see one of the lights, like in heavy fog, you can still work out where the channel is. If you see a green light, you know that the channel is to the right of the light, while for a red light, the channel is to the left.
These rules show why it’s important to keep your boat’s navigation lights in good working order, especially if you intend to sail at night. Make sure your sidelights are clean and unobstructed, and stay aware of the lights of other vessels so that you can anticipate their movements. This information is one of the most important nautical directions to know.
Practical applications for boaters
Knowing how to use port and starboard in real-world boating situations is absolutely essential for safety. These historic terms are constantly used from docking to distress calls to make sure that everyone understands instructions instantly. Especially on big ships where you have multiple people performing tasks at the same time, these terms help avoid misunderstandings.
The same is true in radio communications and emergency calls. Nautical directions like “man overboard, port side” or “vessel approaching on our starboard side” can tell emergency responders where to look for a quick response.
These terms may also be used in weather reporting and anchoring instructions. For example, “drop anchor of the starboard bow.”
Using this boating terminology isn’t about acting like a professional. It’s designed to make communication clear and straightforward for everyone.
Master maritime navigation with confidence
Understanding these historic maritime terms is key to boating safely. If you’re going sailing, it’s a good idea to memorize them and get comfortable with using them so you can respond quickly in a crisis. Practicing them even in your daily life can help you to remember them so that if you ever need them, they’ll be on the tip of your tongue.
Remember: if you’re facing the bow, port is left, and starboard is right. These terms don’t change, so if you’re facing in a different direction, the names for the sides of the boat remain the same.
Get that locked in, and you’ll be one important step closer to safe boating.
FAQs
What happens if I confuse port and starboard?
Mixing up port and starboard can lead to serious miscommunication. That’s especially true during docking, manoeuvres, navigation, and emergencies. The use of these nautical directions helps everyone to act in sync to avoid accidents.
Do these terms apply to all types of boats?
Yes. Port and starboard are universal boating terminology used in every kind of watercraft. Whether you’re on a paddleboard or a cargo ship, these terms help to avoid misunderstanding.
How do port and starboard relate to bow and stern?
The bow is the front of the boat, and the stern is the back. When you’re facing the bow, the port side is on your left, and the starboard side is on your right. These terms never change, so if you turn around to face the stern of the boat, port will now be on your right. But it’s still the left side of the boat.
Are there different terms for the front and back of a boat?
Yes. The front of the boat is called the bow, and the back is the stern. Along with port and starboard, they form the four key nautical directions used in navigation.
What if I’m facing backwards on the boat?
Port and starboard refer to the same physical sides of the vessel, no matter which way you happen to be facing. They’re relative to the boat, not to the observer. So if you’re facing backward on the boat, port will be on your right, and starboard on your left.