The right-hand side of a ship or boat when looking toward the bow. Unlike left and right, starboard is a fixed direction relative to the hull, preventing confusion when crew members are facing different ways. It is universally marked with a green navigation light. Historically, it also refers to one of the two traditional crew watches.
Heard on the job
Pass the tug line over the starboard bow.
Insider tip
A common mnemonic to remember the light colors is that 'port' and 'left' both have four letters, leaving starboard to be the green right side.
Do not mix it up with
- Port: Port is the left side of the vessel, marked with a red light, while starboard is the right side, marked with green.