<P> Port and starboard are nautical and aeronautical terms for left and right, respectively . Port is the left - hand side of a vessel or aircraft, facing forward . Starboard is the right - hand side, facing forward . Since port and starboard never change, they are unambiguous references that are not relative to the observer . </P> <P> The term starboard derives from the Old English steorbord, meaning the side on which the ship is steered . Before ships had rudders on their centrelines, they were steered with a steering oar at the stern of the ship and, because more people are right - handed, on the right - hand side of it . Since the steering oar was on the right side of the boat, it would tie up at the wharf on the other side . Hence the left side was called port . </P> <P> Formerly, larboard was used instead of port . This is from Middle - English ladebord and the term lade is related to the modern load . Larboard sounds similar to starboard and in 1844 the Royal Navy ordered that port be used instead . The United States Navy followed suit in 1846 . Larboard continued to be used well into the 1850s by whalers . </P>

Why are the sides of a ship called port and starboard
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