<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>

On a boat what is port and starboard