r/boating • u/dpdxguy • 1d ago

Do Port and Starboard Switch Sides on A Double-ended Vessel?

I'm on a ferry this morning, and it occurred to me that port and starboard might not be fixed with respect to a double-ended vessel.

Are port and starboard relative to the direction of travel? In other words, do they switch when the direction of travel switches? Or are they always relative to one end of a vessel, which are designated End No. 1 and End No. 2 on this ferry?

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14

u/DarkVoid42 1d ago

yes. the bow is whichever pilothouse is in use.

6

u/Bajatraveler1 1d ago

Check to see if there’s port and starboard running lights on both ends of the boat. That would be the best way to verify the answer to your question.

4

u/TB_Fixer 1d ago

Yep I’ve seen the moment the switch over occurs when boarding a ferry at night

4

u/Ancientways113 1d ago

Yup. Wondered myself and watched it happen.

Shelter Island Ferry, NY.

1

u/infield_fly_rule 10h ago

So funny. I was on that a few months ago and was intrigued by the double set of bow lights. Red/green switch depending on direction of travel.