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Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

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Re: Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

#231

Post by nicky0 »

walthamstow wrote: post #207
petersellers wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also pretty cool that a ton of sailing vocabulary has made its way into common English vernacular. I guess with the UK being the most powerful country in the world at one time (and projecting their power via their Navy) it's not too surprising.

What are some examples? I am English but I know nothing about the maritime world, so I likely know the words as slang/vernacular terms but not what they mean on a ship.

Have a read (or listen to the brilliantly read audiobook) of Master and Commander, and the subsequent series of novels by Patrick O'Brien. Apart from being entertaining historical novels, you learn a lot about naval life and terminology. Reading them I am struck by just how much nautical lingo made its way into common English usage.

Re: Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

#232

Post by endtime »

tudorw wrote: post #225
walthamstow wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are some examples? I am English but I know nothing about the maritime world, so I likely know the words as slang/vernacular terms but not what they mean on a ship.

bow, boom, tack, hitch, tiller, helm, etc :)

How many of these have common non-nautical uses? I don't think I ever use any of these terms, or hear anyone else use them, in common speech.

Re: Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

#233

Post by serial_dev »

I wish they gave or examples as to why simple left and right would be confusing, and how port and starboard are different and better.

Maybe because I'm from a landlocked country, but this article didn't help me understand the why.

Re: Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

#234

Post by wiredfool »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #150
jdietrich wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the automotive trade, a vehicle has a "driver's side" and "passenger side". This only partly solves the ambiguity, because of course some countries drive on the left.

Remember, in the US the inside lane is on the left, and in the UK the inside lane is on the left.

Inside is where the double yellow is.

Re: Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

#235

Post by acherion »

jojobas wrote: post #219
acherion wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And it's not always reversed! Australian-made and Japanese-made cars tend to have indicator on the right stalk, and wipers on the left. European cars tend to have indicators on the left stalk, and wipers on the right. But not always! Case in point: my wife and I live in Australia (have done so all our lives), and my wife had a 2008 Ford Focus, made in South Africa (a RHD country). Indicator stalk was on the left, wip…

Blinkers were always on the outside when most cars had manual transmissions, the opposite would be very inconvenient (and still is). Then somehow Britain didn't challenge the EU regulation that indicators must be on the left regardless of the driving side. Japanese and Korean cars still supply right-hand indicatored-cars to Japan, Australia and New Zealand, yet left-indicatored to the UK, go figure, European ones don…

The indicator should be on the outside, so you can change gear (in a manual transmission car) and indicate at the same time. It's just common sense.

I am used to the indicators on the left though when driving my BMW, so I experience the classic "wipers instead of indicators" dance many times when I drive my wife's car. As most cars nowadays are automatics, I guess this reasoning is falling out of relevance more and more.

I also want to note that not all Australian built cars had wipers on the left and indicators on the right – many GM Holden models like the Kingswood and early Commodore models from the 1980s had them both on the one stalk – that stalk being on the right of course.

Re: Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

#236

Post by 4gotunameagain »

serial_dev wrote: post #233

I wish they gave or examples as to why simple left and right would be confusing, and how port and starboard are different and better. Maybe because I'm from a landlocked country, but this article didn't help me understand the why .

A sailor, looking towards the back of the boat:

- There's an incoming boat !

- From where ?

- From the left !

Is it the left of the sailor, or is it the left of the vessel ?

Re: Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

#237

Post by jgilias »

serial_dev wrote: post #233

I wish they gave or examples as to why simple left and right would be confusing, and how port and starboard are different and better. Maybe because I'm from a landlocked country, but this article didn't help me understand the why .

Imagine ten sailors on a ship, each facing a different direction and trying to coordinate their actions by shouting ‘left’ and ‘right’ to each other.

- Turn it left, no, I mean the ship’s left, not my left!

Re: Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

#238

Post by defen »

serial_dev wrote: post #233

I wish they gave or examples as to why simple left and right would be confusing, and how port and starboard are different and better. Maybe because I'm from a landlocked country, but this article didn't help me understand the why .

They say that it's because "left" and "right" depend on your orientation (it would perhaps be confusing to talk about "the left side of the boat" if you're facing the stern (rear) and the side in question is on your right).

It's probably a similar reason people talk about the "driver's side" and "passenger's side" of a car instead of the left and right sides.

Re: Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?”

#240

Post by easeout »

defen wrote: post #238
serial_dev wrote: post #233

I wish they gave or examples as to why simple left and right would be confusing, and how port and starboard are different and better. Maybe because I'm from a landlocked country, but this article didn't help me understand the why .

They say that it's because "left" and "right" depend on your orientation (it would perhaps be confusing to talk about "the left side of the boat" if you're facing the stern (rear) and the side in question is on your right). It's probably a similar reason people talk about the "driver's side" and "passenger's side" of a car instead of the left and right sides.

OK but what if you don't know their car is starboard-side drive?
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