Port and starboard

Port referred to as viewed from stern to bow, the left side of a water -, air - or spacecraft. The right side is referred to starboard.

Origin and Meaning

Etymological Dictionaries introduce the term port back to back; because " initially came helmsman on small vehicles to operate the rudder back ( engl. back, mnd. bak ) to the left side of the ship. "

The color of the port - position light from ships and aircraft is red.

When a ship from the sea enters into a fairway, then there is the port side of the ship on the port side of the fairway. This is marked depending on Lateralsystem with red ( IALA -A) or green ( IALA -B) tons, the lead as top marks a cylinder. Port tons are numbered with even numbers.

The command port and starboard were introduced in 1903 after a prolonged dispute binding by an imperial order in the German merchant marine. The scheme is applicable since 1 April 1905.

As a mnemonic is often (nowadays rather jokingly ) threatened with a slap, if the sailor port and starboard confused: Then the left cheek running red (assuming the chastening instructor is right-handed) at.

Port (English port) has always been the port side of the warships.