Port

Category: maritime

The left-hand side of a ship when facing forward toward the bow.

A nautical directional term used to identify the left side of the ship. A useful mnemonic is that both "port" and "left" consist of exactly four letters. It is also used to refer to the place where a ship "docks" when in port.

Common Examples

• The dockside gangway was lowered on the port side, allowing passengers to begin disembarkation directly onto the pier.
• Our stateroom is on the port side, providing us with a beautiful view of the coastline throughout the morning approach.