Captain Vinny explains the easiest way to remember is by the number of letters in each word. Is it port or starboard? I don't know why I always thought this as a child, but it helps now to remember, because to me there is a "right" and a "wrong" side to load on. In all my life I’ve never had any need to know which is port and which is starboard, but it has been handy to remember which colored lights are on which sides of a marked channel. A starboard tack is when the wind is blowing from the starboard side of the vessel, while a port tack is when the wind is blowing from the port side of the vessel, simple. When coming into port, mariners didn't want to bust up the "steer board", so the habit became to park with the other side at the dock, and that "other side" became called the "port side". Forward The direction towards the front of the boat. How to remember Port & Starboard Featured Forum: Q&A: Cruise Insurance w/ Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com. I don't know why I always thought this as a child, but it helps now to remember, because to me there is a "right" and a "wrong" side to load on. Ive been reading several posts where the poster mentions not knowing which is which in reference to port or starboard. That is, the port side of the vessel always refers to the same portion of the vessel's structure, and does not depend on which way the observer is facing. It depends where you are; in the Western Hemisphere, the Philippines and some other areas it’s “red right returning” - meaning when you enter port the red channel markers are to starboard (on your right); in Europe it’s the other way around - the green markers are to starboard, and red to port. MARINE TRAFFIC RULES. If a person is looking towards the direction the boat is heading, the port can be seen in the left side and the starboard in … Easy! When looking forward, toward the bow of a ship, port and starboard refer to the left and right sides, respectively. Location on the boat; Port and starboard are always in each side of the boat. Port and starboard are nautical terms of orientation that deal unambiguously with the structure of vessels. So I have this idea in my head that a ship always loads on the port side. Sometimes they are not in pairs though. So I have this idea in my head that a ship always loads on the port side. Port, is the left side of the boat when facing forward. My thanks to Kysdonn who e-mailed me about learning the Port and Starboard of Aircraft - "It's simple. Another way to remember is the port and left are both shorter words than right and starboard. Port and Starboard Examples. In that manner, I always remember port as the side to the left when facing the bow, and starboard to the right. Starboard turn and show your red. Here's a useful mnemonic rhyme for the international "rule of the road" used for the right of way when any two ships are converging:. If, to your STARBOARD, RED appear It is your duty to keep clear; To act as judgement says is proper, To starboard - or port - back - or stop her. The starboard side is to the right when one faces the bow. "There's always some red port (wine) left" Here is a mnemonic from category Marine named Port and starboard: Navigations lights are red on the port side and green on the starboard side. Port and starboard refer to fixed locations on a boat. So, when facing toward the front of the ship, port is on your left. Remembering this story makes it easy to remember which side is starboard. Since port and starboard never change, they are unambiguous references that are independent of a mariner’s orientation, and, thus, mariners use these nautical terms instead of left and right to avoid confusion. The easiest way to remember is that the word port has four letters, just like the word left. So, when facing toward the front of the ship, port is on your left. “Red on the right when returning to port” is not exactly a catchy phrase, but it’s the one I remember. Easy! So, as long as you remember how the letters go in the alphabet, you won’t have any trouble remembering the difference between port and starboard. The port side is to the left of sailors when facing the bow of the ship. Since port and starboard never change, they are unambiguous references that are independent of a mariner’s orientation, and, thus, mariners use these nautical terms instead of left and right to avoid confusion. Today I found out how “port” and “starboard” became the commonly used terms for “left” (port) and “right” (starboard) on a ship.. We’ve all been there. When a port and starboard lateral mark are opposite each other, travel between them. When I first started boating with my father, I was about 5 years old. But if upon your port side is seen. a vessel’s starboard light of green, There’s not so much for you to do, For green to port … Ive been reading several posts where the poster mentions not knowing which is which in reference to port or starboard.