page_title: Boat positions
section_title: Parts of a Boat: Boating Terminology
hierarchical_section_title: Boat positions / Parts of a Boat: Boating Terminology
context_page_description: The front of a boat is called the bow, while the rear of a boat is called the stern. When looking towards the bow, the left-hand side of the boat is the port side. Starboard is the corresponding word for the right side of a boat.
context_section_description: Port and starboard are nautical terms for left and right, respectively. Port is the left-hand side of or direction from a vessel, facing forward. Starboard is the right-hand side, facing forward. Since port and starboard never change, they are clear references that do not depend on which way the observer is facing.
caption: Port side view of the US Coast Guard ship Barracuda
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