BEFORE SHIPS WERE EQUIPPED with properly functioning rudders, they were steered with a giant oar suspended over the stern. It was too big to be brought on deck, so when ships were in harbour it was stored by lashing it to the right side of the vessel.
When mooring, the ship would position itself so that its left side was along the quay, to avoid the oar strapped to the right side.
And so the steering board side was known as starboard, and the unencumbered side next to the dock as port.
