What Are Bow, Stern, Port and Starboard?
The names of a boat’s four main directions — the shared language that replaces ‘left and right’ at sea, helping to avoid confusion and accidents.
A boat’s four main directions each have their own names, and these are used instead of ‘left and right’. Left and right change depending on the person; port and starboard stay fixed to the boat. In manoeuvring, VHF calls and collision-avoidance rules, this language can save lives.
The table below shows the four directions with their colour codes.
Direction terms
Term | Meaning | Colour |
|---|---|---|
Bow | Front, forward end | - |
Stern | Aft, rear end | - |
Port | Left when facing the bow | Red |
Starboard | Right when facing the bow | Green |
The colour code is universal, and navigation lights follow the same system. A classic way to remember it: ‘port’ and ‘red’ both bring wine to mind, and starboard-green tends to stick by itself. If you can see both red and green from ahead at night, the boat is heading straight for you.
Before setting off with the crew — and guests — take 30 seconds to get the language straight: where is port, where is starboard, and which side the fender is on. A team that can say ‘we’ll come alongside on starboard’ has already done half the job of a calm arrival.