Explain the difference between port and starboard with a simple example.

• A. Port is the left side; starboard is the right side when looking forward
• B. Port is the right side; starboard is the left side when looking forward
• C. Port is the rear; starboard is the bow
• D. Port is the up side; starboard is the down side

Answer: (A)

Port and starboard are about left and right from the point of view of someone looking toward the front of the vessel. When you face the bow, the left side of the ship is port and the right side is starboard. A simple way to picture it is to stand on deck facing forward and point with your left hand toward port and your right hand toward starboard. At night, you can also remember the lights: red on the port (left) side and green on the starboard (right) side, which helps other vessels tell where you are in the dark. The idea that port could be the right side or that one term refers to the rear or the up side doesn’t fit how ships are oriented, since the terms are strictly about left and right from the direction the ship is heading.