Port side & Starboard side

Starboard side & Port side

Port is the left side of a boat looking forward.

 

Starboard is the right side of a boat when looking forward.

 

 

It is quite simple. There are four letters in the words PORT and LEFT so you can easily remember that the left side of a boat is the port side.

What color is the port side light of a boat?

The red light indicates a vessel's port (left) side

What color is the starboard side light of a boat?

The green light indicates a vessel's starboard (right) side.

 

Port & starboard side lights of a boat

Starboard buoy = RED  


 
 

 

What color is a starboard buoy or marker?

What color is a port buoy or marker?

Port buoy = GREEN

 

 

 

What color is a starboard buoy or marker?

Sound signaling to starboard


 
 

 

Sound signaling to starboard

2 short sounds = I am coming to port, I am going left.

When I pass near another boat, I will maneuver by leaving the other boat on my right side as I pass.

Now that you have an idea of the difference between port side and starboard side, come discover with us, all the other aspects of boating with our online boating safety course and obtain your Canadian boating license.


 
 

 

Sound signaling to port

Boating License & Pleasure Craft Operator Card online exam - Accredited Transport Canada

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