What is starboard, and why is it called starboard?

Direct answer

Starboard

Starboard is the vessel’s fixed right-hand side when you face forward toward the bow. It does not change when you turn around, and the starboard sidelight is green.

Also called: steerboard (archaic)

Port Bow Stern Tack

How it works

Because starboard belongs to the vessel rather than the observer, everyone aboard can describe the same side without first saying which direction they are looking.

The word appears in helm orders, crossing and head-on encounters, navigation lights, maneuvering signals, sailing tacks, and buoyage. Seeing something on your starboard side does not by itself settle who must give way—the encounter, vessel types, visibility, channels, and risk of collision all matter.

Why is it called starboard?

Before centreline rudders, boats were often steered with an oar mounted on the right-hand side. NOAA traces starboard to Old English words for the steering side of a vessel: stéor, meaning steer, and bord, meaning the side of a boat.

On the water

The green sidelight marks a vessel’s starboard side.
In a head-on encounter between power-driven vessels, both alter course to starboard.
A sailboat with the wind coming over her starboard side is on starboard tack.

Common mistake

“Anything on starboard has right of way” is unsafe shorthand. Rule 15 is only one in-sight power-driven crossing case, and other rules can control the encounter.

Remember it

Think STEERING SIDE: the old steering oar gives STARBOARD its name.

See it in context

Apply starboard in a crossingSee when the power-driven vessel with the other on starboard must keep clear.Hear the starboard alteration signalCompare the International action signal with the US Inland proposal.See the green sidelight sectorView the vessel from different bearings and identify her aspect.Drill the green sidelightIdentify starboard aspects in the lights quiz before your next night passage.