In general, 0⁰ to either side does not result in any change in direction. For instance, 90⁰ to the starboard indicates that the vessel must now proceed in a direction perpendicular to the initial direction and on the starboard side. In addition, in the unfortunate event of an accident and during subsequent court proceedings, if the captain or concerned officers are found guilty of using terms such as left or right to refer to their vessel or other vessels, and if found that this error led to the accident, they are then eligible to be held guilty for having caused sinking or damage to the vessel. Thus, it is essential and important that the right technical terms are used to describe the two halves of the vessel. However, certain experiments conducted in recent times at hydrodynamic testing facilities have pointed out that specific vessels that are unsymmetrical can have better performance parameters compared to their symmetrical counterparts.

Portside Pirates (Audio Download): Oscar Seaworthy, Mark Portside Pirates (Audio Download): Oscar Seaworthy, Mark

The usage of these terms became common as English trading ships sailed to several countries during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries AD.These directions must be passed as X degrees to the Port or Starboard. Here, X can take values ranging from 0⁰ to 180⁰ and indicates how much the ship should turn in the relevant direction. In nautical terms, the bow or fore lies at the forward of the ship, while the stern or aft is the rear portion. This definition of port and starboard ensures that these directions are unique irrespective of the position of the concerned party.

Port and Starboard Of Vessels Explained – Everything You Port and Starboard Of Vessels Explained – Everything You

In the case of unsymmetrical vessels as well, the two halves are never separately assembled. In general, most ships are symmetrical about their centerline on both sides. This has proven to be the ideal design that allows for the least resistance in moving a ship. Once this is done, the heading and other related information are fed into the system before appropriate action is taken. This system of reporting by using both an angle and a side is useful when it comes to calculating the speed of an object.

For example, take an object initially at a certain angle on the port. If it is able to cover a fixed angle in a set amount of time, the distance covered and the speed of the object can be calculated through basic trigonometry. Thus, the port and starboard terms have a profound usage in the field of navigation and manoeuvring. Structure and Construction of Port And Starboard When facing the other vessel, if the red light is on the right and the green is on the left, the indication is that the vessel is approaching your position. Although the terms port and starboard started off on-board English ships several centuries ago, they have found their way into every mariner’s life. Without them, navigation would be a nightmare, and accidents would be frequent occurrences. To do so, information can be fed into the system in the form of two parameters- the angle of change and whether the change is in the port or starboard side. Such an automated system reduces the chances of error and allows the officers to attend to more immediate duties. As right and left are ambiguous due to the lateral inversion of perspective, there is a higher risk of a collision without the use of proper terms. Directions in Navigation and Steering

Pirate Songs - Blogger Discovery Garden Learning: Pirate Songs - Blogger

For instance, left and right are ambiguous directions that depend on the location of the observer and the way they are facing.Passing directions in such a manner is a recipe for disaster, as the captain’s left may differ from that of the person operating the steering gear. Thus, only small red and green stripes are present for the pilot to judge the location of the vessel and the area that they need to land on. Think that there is something interesting missing about these navigational terms? Have a new point or opinion to add? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section. Another theory as to why it is called starboard is that Vikings called the sides of their ships boards, and the word for the steering oar sounded like star. They steered from the right side as well, and so the right side was the board with the star or the starboard. Incorrectly passing information has led to major mishaps in the past. So, although both instructions put the vessel in almost the same position, care must be taken when using them. In addition to manoeuvring, the terms port and starboard are also used to spot and convey the location of an object, mainly on warships.

Port side pirates : Seaworthy, Oscar : Free Download, Borrow Port side pirates : Seaworthy, Oscar : Free Download, Borrow

A phrase similar to that used in navigation is then used- X degrees to the port or starboard. This information is conveyed either to the captain or to an officer manning the weapon system. Port and starboard are the official directions for left and right on all vessels, and this convention was laid down in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. This navigational treaty ensured that stringent rules were followed during any manoeuvres to prevent collisions and untoward incidents.

Find a Scheme of Work

The terms port and starboard are used instead of left and right since port and starboard never change as they are unambiguous references that are not affected by a mariner’s orientation. Hence, these nautical terms help mariners in avoiding confusion and improve onboard safety. Studies have shown that most pilots turn to the left when faced with an aborted landing and even during accidents. This logic is followed even while driving on roads in some countries. Most cars have steering wheel positions that enable the driver to safely pull over to the left instead of heading to the right where there is incoming traffic. Often, marine officers are trained extensively in becoming comfortable with using the terms port and starboard. The reason for this is that difficult manoeuvres may require them to react spontaneously and issue directions. When asked about the most common unsymmetrically designed ships, the first example that often springs to mind is that of aircraft carriers. These carriers generally have a conning tower and their superstructure on the starboard side, while a long runway is installed on the port.