Port and Starboard vs Left and Right

[Alan Peck]

I saw a special on tv the other night about ship sinkings in the Great Lakes. I saw several shots taken of the helm that had the words "left"on one side and "right" on the other.

I am curious about this as I thought Port and Starboard were universal. Is this something unique to the great lakes. Or did the words left and right not refer to Port and Starboard?

Maybe this explains the number of ship sinkings in the Great Lakes.

[Thorne]

Was that particular bridge underwater when the photos were taken?

;0 )

Might it be for non-native English speakers, pilots and suchlike? You'd imagine that translators would avoid multiple English words for a single concept...

[ron ll]

Left and right are NOT the same as port and starboard as we've discussed here before. Left and right refer to a person, port and starboard to the vessel. Consider when you are facing the stern. When rowing a boat, the left oar is the starboard oar.

[Alan Peck]

Ron: Exactly, Port and Starboard have very specific meanings on a vessel where as left and right do not. That's why I was curious

[Ian McColgin]

There are both merchant and navel vessels where the command is "right rudder."

[Kaa]

They may have been gronicle installation marks...

Kaa

[Canoeyawl]

Right and left rudder are universal ship speak.
Confusion can arise with traditional commands like "Port your helm" - With a tiller this being right rudder, with a wheel not...
Not to mention starboard and larboard -LOL

[Alan Peck]

Left and Right rudder makes sense and these signs were posted right in front of the ships wheel.