0
What is the history of port and starboard running lights and why were these colors used?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
I grew up on the Isle of Man which was settled by Celts and later by the Vikings, and I was taught in elementary school what I believe is the true answer to the Larboard/Starboard debate. It is very simple and I was told the reason by an old seafarer, and by my school teacher in 1943, I still hold it to be true. On the old open decked sailing ships where there wasn't any wheelhouse, Starboard and Larboard were both used. When a storm was raging and the captain yelled to the helmsman either, Starboard or Larboard, with the noise of the storm the helmsmen often couldn't tell which word was shouted, and thus frequently the wheel was spun in the wrong direction. To overcome this frequent happening, seamen and ship's owners decided to drop the term Larboard and call it Port. As Sherlock Holmes might say, "Elementary my dear Watson." Art. Armstrong. More detailed information is probably to be found in Rules of the Road for navigation. Ships traveling toward each other are to be steered so that they pass starboard side to starboard side (much the same as motor vehicle traffic is done in England, Japan etc. Therefore the "running lights: on vessels identify the starboard side with green light visible only from a controlled number of degrees facing the front or bow of the ship. Ships traveling in a head on direction to the first ship know because of the universal rules of the road that their Green (or starbord) light should pass the oncoming ship on the side (starboard) which is visible green. Ships pass oncoming vessels in a starboard to starboard manner. This prevents confusion should either ship's navigator steer a sharp turn to the side. Port (Red) is used on the PORT side and simply means that the ships do not pass port-to-port when they approach each other. Just one quick point the last answer would be correct except that all vessels shall pass port to port at all times. The Red light is called the Port side because port wine is red. The original name for the opposite side was Larboard, but over the years it was corrupted to Starboard. Royal Navy issue seaman's caps, during the last 100 years have had a Red ribbon and a Green ribbon inside the innner lining to remind new men which side is which. The above answer is correct, vessels should generally pass Port-to-Port (both steer Starboard)unless otherwise communicated. Two short soundings of the horn can signal an intent to pass Starboard-to-Starboard. However, I would like to correct the above mention of Larboard changing to Starboard. "Larboard" was actually the name for what is now called "Port." Due to the complications created by similar sounding "Larboard"(now Port) and "Starboard" (still Starboard), a general order was issued by the United States Navy Department in 1846 stating... "UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 18, 1846 It having been represented to the Department, that confusion arises from the use of the words "Larboard" and "Starboard," in consequence of the similiarity of sound, the word "Port" is hereafter to be substituted for "Larboard." GEORGE BANCROFT." Source; -DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER 805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD Washington DC 20374-5060 When in the Longboat museum in Oslo I learned that a viking longboat was steered by a large wooden plank called a "steer board". The modern day equivelent is a "tiller" or "rudder". The steer-board was operated by the helmsman facing forward and, since most people are right-handed, he would naturally hold the steer-board in his right hand. Over the years the term "steer-board" was, along with a number of other nordic words, incoropated into the English language and evolved into "starboard". Since the steer-board was always on the right (the rest of the vessel being more or lesss symetrical), the righthand side of the vessle becaome known as the steer-board side. In any event this is a much more romantic explianation and makes it easier to remember the port from starboard! An allied,less convincing, expalation was that the steer-board obscured the view of the harbour when the helmsman was looking right. This meant that whenever possible the helmsman would approach a port from the North or West (the port being in being Scandinavia) so that the port could be seen from the unobscured lefthand side of the vessel hence the "port -side" - nothing to do with fortified wines I am afraid. The latest answer:- Usually,old sailing ships had long masts & sails which disturbed the visibility of The helmsman.In olden days,sailing was done following the arrangement of stars in the sky instead of maps.Because of the the big masts & sails in front ,the sailors thought an idea of arranging a deckextending out on the right side to watch the stars & continue sailing.So one important person on ship used to read the star location sitting on the deck & convey the same to the Helmsman.So,finally the deck used to stand, look at the stars & trace the sailing route is termed as starboard deck.Because of this extended deck on the right side,only the other side of the ship could be brought towards the port and it was named as portside.Thank you,viewers.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How were the colors on the red and green navigational lights originated?
it was because it was red and purple it was because it was red and purple
Besides the standard red and green running lights what other lights do ship's display when under way?
All power vessels must have a white Stern light. Rules differ slightly between power boats and sailing vessels, where sailing vessels can have both their port, starboard and stern lights on their mast. An all around white light denotes a vessel at anchor. If a vessel is longer then I think its 200', then they must have two all around white lights, one forward and one aft in addition to their red and green navigation lights. Vessels towing have a yellow light which signifies they are towing. They also have the back white light. The white light stands higher in the air its usually on a post or something so it could be higher in the air.
What are the Sun's Northen Lights?
The Northern Lights are not the sun's. They are earth's. They are caused by the interaction of our magnetosphere with the high energy wavelengths of sunlight. It's very complicated so much so that I don't understand it, but God made things interesting and beautiful for us, and this is but another example. Look at rainbows, and prisms, and colors and flowers. Beautiful, no?
What is the history of Christmas tree lights?
History of Christmas Tree LightsLegend has it that the original Christmas tree was a pine tree sitting in the woods with the stars shining through it. To capture that look, the early adapters put candles on the branches, but they were only lit for short periods of time and were very dangerous. Today's lights are intended to capture the magnificence of the real stars indoors. It also represents the light of Jesus Christ under all of us.
What Major League Baseball stadium to get lights?
All MLB stadiums have lights, although the Cubs were the last to get lights at their stadium and the last to play a night game at home.
What colors are the port and starboard lights on an aircraft?
Just like on a boat, red to port & green to starboard. You also need a white light at the rear.
When encountering another vessel in darkness or reduced visibility what do red and green lights indicate?
The other vessel is coming directly toward the observer, so both the port and starboard running lights are visible.
When encountering another vessel in darkness or reduced visibility what do visible red and green lights indicate?
The other vessel is coming directly toward the observer, so both the port and starboard running lights are visible.
What does Italy's flag colors represent?
Blood ( Red, of course) Air ( white) and Soil, or agricultural potential- Green. It is maybe not just a coinicidence the running lights on ships- required by law after dark, are Red ( Port) White ( Overhead) and Green ( Starboard)- maybe this was done to honor Columbus!
What lights must power-driven boats less than 65.6 feet long exhibit when underway at night?
Port and starboard running light and stern light.
What lights are needed for boating at night?
Head lights, port, starboard and stern lights (on 28' pontoon boat).
What is persistence of vision in human eye?
it is an optical illusion not a compulsive habit, like reading mania. the best knwon example would be movies. another example is the illusion of motion of sequential traffic signs -often called a (Rabbit) from dog-track usage, or the incorrectly termed running lights around theatre marquees which create an illusion of a sort of conveyor belt like motion when in fact the whole thing is stationary and the lights merely flash on and off in a controlled pattern, thus the optic nerve persists in seeing this thing as a conveyor-belt like motion, but it is standing still in reality. these lights are correctly called theatre marquee lights or circline or circle-lights, not Running Lights. Running olights are operational night lights on ships, from port to starboard, Red port) White (overhead, mast heads) and Green- Starboard. maritime traffic rules are incumbent on the position angles of these lights- see and be seen. The colors are simlar to the Italian Flag.
What must you do if you see another vessel's red and white lights lights off your starboard bow?
Maneuver to avoid a collision
A sailboat is operating under sail at night. Which of these lights should be used?
You give no options but the standard lights depend on things like length overall. A minimum would be port and starboard running lights, masthead light and stern light
How do submarines display navigational lights when afloat?
The primary underway lights are the Port/Starboard running lights, the rudder light, and a flashing yellow dome light. On older boats the Port/Starboard lights were housed in the sail, and had to be deployed manually by an Electrician's Mate once surfaced and the bridge manned. Today they're likely deployed automatically. The Port light is Red, Starboard is Green. The rudder light is on top of the rudder, and is an electrically powered white light. The yellow flashing light is deployed via a raisable mast; it is a navigational indicator to all ships in the area that there is a surfaced submarine underway. The light is used because submarines are very low in the water, and are difficult to see in good conditions with standard running lights. Without the yellow light, it's easy to mistake it for a regular sailing or fishing vessel.
Which light should a sailboat use when operating at night under sail?
Port (red) and Starboard (green) running lights and a white light which will be mounted on either the stern or the masthead.
What color of lights must be on the starboard side of a power driven vessel at night?
Port is red, starboard is green.A rhyme is "wine is red and there's little left in the bottle."
