Port and Starboard

It was thirty-three years ago, it was hot, and my company commander was yelling "YOUR OTHER LEFT, "!@#$%^&*!" That's right, it was Navy Boot Camp and we were marching on the "Grinder" until we dropped from the heat. We eventually learned to start off marching on our left foot, but for some reason, they never stopped calling us "!@#$%^&*!"

As we dragged ourselves back to the barracks at the end of the day, it wasn't left, right, front, and back. It was port, starboard, fore, and aft. In those days, we just did what they told us to do. But, I always wondered how they came up with things like "port" and "starboard." As it turned out, I graduated from boot camp and left for the fleet without ever getting to the bottom of that one. 

Once I was aboard ship, they only called me "!@#$%^&*!" once in a while. As I advanced in rank, they stopped calling me "!@#$%^&*!" altogether, which made me feel a little better. Eventually, I got to call the lower ranking sailors "!@#$%^&*!." I guess it was all part of defending our county.

Now, back to the question of "port" and "starboard." It started with the "Steer Board," which was the "Steering Board," the predecessor to today's rudder. The "Steer Board," was mounted on the right side of a ship. The side of the vessel with the "Steer Board" became known as the "Starboard" side.

The Vikings used the "Steer Board" system from around the 9th through the 12th centuries. There is good evidence of "Steer Board" usage, based on examination of old Viking vessels. Discoveries of such vessels date back to the 1800's. The Viking ships were generally found to be in great states of preservation and valuable in their historical significance.

Most ships also had a "Load Board" used for loading cargo. The "Load Board," or "Larboard," was fitted to the left side of a ship. To put the "Starboard" side to the pier would risk damage to the "Steer Board," so ships generally put the left side to the pier. And so, the sailors called the left side of the ship the "Larboard" side. Accordingly, the left side of the ship was usually facing the "Port" where they would load or unload cargo.

After years of confusion between the "Larboard" and "Starboard" sides of the ship, the term "Larboard" was replaced by the term "Port." This change occurred in the mid 1800's. From that time on the left side of a vessel would be known as the "Port" side and the right side would be known as the "Starboard" side. 

The United States Navy officially changed its terminology to "Port" and "Starboard" in about 1846. It is recorded that the "word was passed" on a U.S. warship to announce the change in the following manner: "Do you hear there fore and aft? The word "Larboard" is to be forever dropped in the United States Navy and the word "Port" is substituted. Any man using the word "Larboard" will be punished."

I suppose to use the word "Larboard" would from then on be "Politically Incorrect" and subject a person to punishment. What a coincidence! Being "Politically Incorrect" today will also get you punished. Some things never change!

Until next time, I wish you clear skies, fair winds, and calm seas!