Port and Starboard
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by AlanE (talk | contribs) at 02:43, December 13, 2008. It may differ significantly from current revision.
Port and Starboard. Whilst used in China from the 4th century A.D., the fixed rudder was not seen in Europe until the late 12th, early 13th centuries. Before that a large broad oar, a “steer board”, was lashed, or otherwise fastened, to the right-hand side of the ship (because the average steersman was right handed), and the right side has come down to us as “starboard”. Likewise, so as not to damage the "steer board", vessels always came into port - alongside the wharf, jetty or embankment - on the other or left-hand side of the vessel, which has become the "port" side.