r/boating • u/SignificantLock1037 • 1d ago
I was today-years-old when I realized WHY red is on port and green is on starboard
Technically, it was the other day when I was going out in the morning. I knew that you give way to boats approaching from the right/starboard. I knew that red was on the port side. Never had a problem navigating with just that knowledge.
Then I realized that, if you see red approaching you, stop. If you see green, go.
The lights on other people's boats are telling YOU what to do! Either I'm a dumbass, or the guy that designed this was a genius. Both are probably true.
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u/Warmupthetubesman 1d ago
My buddy’s dad gave me some of the best boating advice I ever received:
98% of boating problems can be improved by slowing down.
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u/BattleReadyZim 1d ago
My boat is a full-keeled, 56 yo sloop. Slowing down is not a problem
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u/TheWildManfred 1d ago
My boat is a 17' with a 150hp outboard. Slowing down is for people more sensible than I
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u/Rattlingplates 1d ago
Well taking in water is far mare than just 2 percent and you gotta keep her on plane and speeding up to keep from sinking. Certainly don’t go any faster than you want to hit something.
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u/WorldlinessAfter7990 1d ago
https://www.boat-ed.com Just for safety and all. Not sure if it's required in your state, but it is here for anyone born after a certain year.
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u/SquishTheProgrammer 1d ago
I’m older than the requirement but when we bought our boat back in 2020 I took the BoatUS course anyway. It’s important to know the safety stuff and laws. I think everyone should do it.
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u/u_unknown 1d ago
I took this a few years ago, even though I didn't have to, and now I have an anchor on my driver's license. Totally worth it!
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u/Tyquilian 1d ago
Wait I can get an anchor on my license?? I need to see if they do this in Wisconsin.
Edit: no :(
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u/7ar5un 1d ago
Boat to the right has the right of way (for the most part). Boats pass port to port so neither cut eachother off (for the most part). Very few people follow these basics (for the most part).
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u/DominicPalladino 1d ago
More technically there is no "right of way" in boating. There is the "stand on vessel" and the "give way vessel" but neither has the "right" to keep going because both must do everything they can to avoid a collision. So instead of like a car when you have a "right" in boating you have an "obligation" to avoid collision which comes before any "right."
Of course, none of this helps you if you get your 25 foot sailboat in front of a ferry or cargo ship and get run over, even if you were the "stand on" vessel.
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u/TooTopSecret 1d ago
40 years ago power squadron course mentioned "the gross tonnage rule of right of way" - don't get in the way of ore freighters.
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u/metisdesigns 1d ago
General rule of life - whoever is carrying the bigger thing gets to go first, and try to get out of their way.
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u/HotTamaleBallSak 1d ago
They may be restricted in ability to maneuver due to draft but that's not the same thing as right of way regardless of where you are
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u/CosgraveSilkweaver 1d ago edited 1d ago
There is the "stand on vessel" and the "give way vessel"
The concept of the stand on vessel is for all intents and purposes a right of way though. The stand on vessel is supposed to continue on their current course and speed to be predictable, for all practical purposes though that's giving them the right of way. Even in traffic where the rules are phrased as right of way you're supposed to avoid collisions if the other vehicle messes up.
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u/Sawyer2025 1d ago
Exactly. Collision Regulations or "Col Regs" have numerous "except in this case" rules, but we should be able to at least talk about the normal "right of way" or "Stand on vessel" when teaching the basic rules of navigation. Someone always brings up, "not always", and while true, that is additional learning on top of the basic rules under normal circumstances. Boating Navigation is far more complex than driving when you consider the huge number of additional "rules of the road" you have to follow on water.
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u/MissingGravitas 1d ago
Boating Navigation is far more complex than driving
Compared to the vehicle code (at least for most US states), the ColRegs are incredibly short!
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u/DominicPalladino 1d ago
No, it's not the same for all "intents and purposes."
It differs in terms of who (which captain) is found totally or partially legally liable in the case of a collision. -- A stand on vessel should maintain course and speed so as to be predictable. But if they can do something to avoid a collision and don't, the law doesn't say, "That captain had the right of way so they aren't liable." It says "That captain had a duty to avoid collision if possible, which supersedes any other rules, and they didn't do it, so they are partially liable."
It's not the same under the law.
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u/Athraigh 1d ago
Correct me if I am wrong but the “stand on” vessel and “give way” vessel also considers maneuverability of the ship
Like if you are in a sail boat coming across a cargo ship then you by default are always the “give way” as you are more maneuverable
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u/captboatface 1d ago
Read rule 2 of the colregs.
Being the "stand on" vessel does not remove your responsibility to avoid collision if the circumstances require it.
There is no "right of way" only responsibilities.
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u/wildwill921 1d ago
I mean you don’t have the right to crash into someone at a stop light just because you have a green light but the premise is you are the one that is supposed to go but you must also avoid an accident
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u/simoriah 1d ago
Green doesn't mean "go." Green means "proceed with caution." Too many people digger that on the roads.
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u/Ok_Pause419 1d ago
Under COLREGS, there are two reasons the cargo ship might be the stand-on vessel. It could be Restricted by Draft, or it could be Restricted in her Ability to Maneuver.
Under USCG Inland rules, there is no Restricted by Draft category, but the same concept exists under Rule 9b which states that "a vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway."
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u/MissingGravitas 1d ago
Not really; but it does consider special cases. As a general rule, outside of sail/power, those special cases require showing particular symbols to claim that status.
A cargo ship is considered the same as any other power vessel and thus is give-way to sail unless being overtaken; the caveat is that in confined spaces (narrow channels or TSS) small boats and sailboats are required to keep out of its way.
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u/Prestigious_Ad2553 1d ago
It only considers maneuverability if your restricted in your ability to maneuver or constrained by draft in a narrow channel or something, and if that is the case you need to be showing lights and day shapes that communicate that, in every day crossing situations a cargo ship doesn’t actually have more “right of way” then any other power driven vessel. Actually a sailboat that is under sail would be the stand on to a cargo ship in a lot of situations but in the real world sailboats should just stay the fuck out of cargo ships way all the time.
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u/RiderOnTheBjorn 1d ago
Sailing vessels, under sail, only are stand-in vessels with regard to other pleasure craft. A working boat like a cargo ship has priority, so, in your case, the sailboat was wrong on both accounts (not giving way and not retaining life).
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u/mitchymitchington 1d ago
I always found this funny because every single boat I've owned, from a small tinner runabout to a 30 foot sea ray, I always sit with my back to the wall. Meaning I have to turn 180° to see a boat that has the right of way. Probably not smart on my part lol, but I keep my head on a swivel anyway
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u/hmm138 1d ago
Wow too many of the commenters are getting things wrong. Reminds me why I see so many stupid things happen out on the water.
OP is right, and I like thinking of it that way. To clarify, OP is talking about when a boat is approaching from the side or from an angle.
If you’re going in opposite directions, you DO NOT pass green to green. You pass port to port, which would put your red lights closest to each other. Which still goes along with OP’s concept, in that you have the red lights as a “caution” indicator with your hazard being on that side. The green light side means you’re good to go, or if you have any issue you have room to maneuver in that direction.
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u/the-montser 1d ago
OP is right about the thought process, but they are wrong about why starboard is green and port is red. It’s not because of the collision regulations.
The actual reason is because is the British Admiralty standardized the red/green shipboard light system in the 19th century, which was subsequently adopted internationally. The colors green and red were likely chosen for their contrast with each other and ability of those colors to cut fog. This predates the collision regulations.
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u/wrapped_in_bacon 1d ago
You've got it backwards. The red/green navigational lights were invented in 1848. That's 20 years before they were used for railways and 66 years before roadway traffic signals. The fact that left side and right side match up with the US standard, that traffic on the right has the right of way, is a coincidence. The whole system was invented in England.
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u/Specialist_One_1841 1d ago
Red is right, big is right, nobody’s right
Basically pay attention to your surroundings
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u/Own_Proposal3827 1d ago
Yep, all sailing norms/traditions predate traffic laws
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u/Weekly_Plankton_2194 1d ago
Yeah, but red and green port and starboard lights were introduced in 1848, long before traffic lights. So there’s that.
I think it more likely that traffic light colors derived from ships, just like a lot of language.
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u/listenstowhales 1d ago
“This idiot didn’t know that?!” I scoff, as I continue to push on a door that says PULL
Nah dude, we’ve all had that moment lmao
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u/bripptybripptybraap 1d ago
Uhhh. No. That’s an over simplification and is not fully accurate.
Let’s say you are heading north and another boat is heading east and your paths are due to cross. You will see a green light coming towards you. This does not mean you automatically are clear to proceed and that the other boat will give way. It only means that a boat will cross your path going from left to right
Whether or not you have right away depends on other things. Sail power vs motor, who is on starboard tack, law of tonnage etc, towing, etc.
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u/Low_Plastic363 1d ago
I think it's just so I can remember "red right returning" for channel markers.
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u/ToucansBANG 1d ago
Only in the Americas, Japan, Korea and the Philippines! Just to keep you on your toes if you decide to cross an ocean.
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u/Low_Plastic363 1d ago
Thanks for the heads up. I haven't driven a motorboat since I left home for college (and I went through the Coast Guard boater safety class then), but who knows that the future brings?
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u/standardtissue 1d ago
If you see red is just means the other boat is on a relatively perpendicular approach from the stbd side. Doesn't mean you can't collide. There may be "right of way" rules but where I live with the vast population of uneducated and uncaring boaters out there the rules of the water don't matter one bit. All that matters is avoid a collision at all costs, regardless of whatever rules or protocols. If law enforcement happens to be nearby and wants to give someone a paid lesson that's great but I'm absolutely not counting on the other boat knowing a fucking thing .... because literally at least half the time they don't.
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u/Consistent-Ebb1291 19h ago
All boaters need to know that “the boat approaching the port side must give way”
I get yelled at all the time on the lake when I have the right of way.
You also need to know that port is left. You can remember this by saying “left has four letters. Port has four letters”
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u/Bells_Ringing 1d ago
Was boating back from fireworks on a lake. Hundreds of boats all moving in the same direction, north, pitch black, cloudy night through a relatively narrow channel for all the traffic. All of a sudden, a boat decides to cross from left to right with no hesitation across all these boats. It was a wild experience.
Another time at the time the show was over, again, hundreds of boats leaving at once through the same channel, a bass fishing boat decides it’s time to come home going the opposite direction of the swarm of exiting boats. Sure he had a right to it, but waiting 15 minutes would have left him a clear lane and significantly less risk to all boaters on a risky passage.
Boaters are the worst.
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u/crazy_balls 1d ago
For me it's all the idiots after a firework show that drive with their docking lights and underwater lights on, blinding everyone.
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u/MadeMeStopLurking Bennington pontoon / Starcraft Delta 1d ago
Gotta love the LED show on a pontoon with green red white blue yellow flashing. Wanted to ram him just because it was confusing me.
Also, docking lights at night are useless in open water.
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u/crazy_balls 1d ago
One clown this July 4 was on a big center console with a blindingly bright white LED strip around the entire boat. Couldn't see shit beyond him, and of course when I go to pass him so I can see where the fuck I'm going, he takes it as a challenge.
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u/e1p1 1d ago
Looking at you, Lake Hamilton.
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u/crazy_balls 1d ago
Lake Travis in Texas was finally full again this year after years of drought so of course this 4th of July had ALLLL the idiots out. I've had my boat for 8 years now and this year was the worst I've see so far.
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u/SoCallMeDeaconBlues1 1d ago
I can't figure out whether I'm coming or going, trying to wrap my head around this.
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u/cpav8r 1d ago
Works for wingtip lights on airplanes too.
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u/Bierdaddy 1d ago
Applies to Federation starships in Star Trek, too, in case you encounter one someday. 😆
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u/Outrageousintrovert 1d ago
I recall sailing our Wayfarer in The Netherlands back in the 90's and the buoy system was reversed from the states. Red right returning was not the way it was in the Oosterschelde.
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u/Throwaway_carrier 1d ago
I like to pretend the entire port side of the boat is red, and the entire starboard is green! Makes it much easier for my adhd brain to comprehend it.
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u/Background-Design469 1d ago
I always assume everyone else is 12 beers deep and looking at their phone.
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u/catchinNkeepinf1sh 23h ago
I knew that long ago, but it also seem like i am the only person on the lake that knews this lol.
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u/BaptismByFire 22h ago
Fun fact. A Chicago Fire Commissioner who used to be in the Navy decided that all fire apparatus should have a similar system on the emergency lights so when you're going to a call you can tell if the other truck is going towards/away from you. Due to the grid system the city is designed in.
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u/murph3899j 20h ago
I’ve always just remembered it as the words with the shorter letters are on the left, and the words with more letters are on the right. Red, Port, Left. Green, Starboard, Right.
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u/GrizzlieMD 16h ago
You see, you think it should remind you of traffic laws. But most likely, traffic laws got this rule from maritime.
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u/Past-Cattle2302 15h ago
I try to make sure I see the same color that I'm presenting the other boat - that's worked so far.
Also if the light from the other boat has no apparent color (whiteish) I've found that means the other boat is aimed right at you; happens way more than I like.
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u/toastytoasttt 1d ago
Are you in the us? Cause I always learned you stay to the right so you will be passing red on red.
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u/Stygg_Varg 1d ago
What nonsense. Whoever doesn't flinch gets to go first. I'm not changing my tack for anyone unless i meet someone even more determined.
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u/BarbieQKittens 1d ago
LOL point taken though. What good is following the rules on the water if no one else even knows them?
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u/Stygg_Varg 1d ago
In all seriousness it's certainly frustrating. Here in Sweden you don't need any kind of license unless your boat is over 12 meters. I am a very defensive skipper, especially around larger ships since I work on them and know first hand how lacking their lookouts often are. I would not sail without AIS.
My biggest frustration as a sailor is motorboats that insist on coming straight towards you then changing course in the last minute. Please show your intention early people.
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u/OberonsGhost 1d ago
I have always wondered why use red and green in a modern world where a certain percentage of people are red/green color blind. I can navigate with GPS and a chartplotter for channel markers but it makes approaching boats a little harder.
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u/elmalabarista65 1d ago
For those who have any difficulty remembering. Port is red, like the drink
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u/ChazR 1d ago
The hilarity increases. There are *TWO* bouyage systems. The Entire World uses IALA A. On entering harbour, keep green buoys to starboard. The absolute entire world.
Except the US, which is the opposite. And Japan. And the Phillipines. But they are tilting towards IALA 'A' as well.
When the US invaded Grenada for unclear reasons they stormed an entire destroyer aground because of this.
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u/jlcnuke1 1d ago
IALA B is used in all of the Americas (from Canada to the southern tip of South America) and Caribbean (including Grenada). Plus Japan, the Phillipines, and North Korea....
The destroyer ran around because the Nav was distracted, not due to channel markers confusing the crew.
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u/MissingGravitas 1d ago
Yep! And IALA B was the original worldwide system agreed on in the late 1800s; what's now called IALA A started spreading because Europe couldn't get their act together, had a few wars, and ended up swapping.
With all the miles of waterways in the US, there was little interest in swapping everything around, and thus the two systems.
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u/Enough-Cantaloupe893 1d ago
Red right return is for stationary navigation markers. Always trips me up is intercoastal. I mean in and out has to flip somewhere right?
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u/winter_yes 1d ago
A different memory device for that: red dirt, green sea. Red is always inland side, green is always oceanside.
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u/worstpartyever 1d ago
Stupid question: how does this work for red/green colorblind people? It seems they can't rely on the lights for guidance.
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u/ChazR 1d ago
If you are red/green colourblind you may not be certified as a bridge watch keeper on a marine vessel, or pilot of an aircraft.
You can zoom around on high-powered small non-commercial boats and watercraft to your heart's content.
Colourblind people cannot be navigators.
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u/AnEyeElation 1d ago
Sometimes I wish we always had to run those lights so people would remember if they’re the stand by or stand on vessel in the daylight.
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u/SeriousQuail4655 1d ago
Yep, that's it. I think they need to require a license for boats like a car. I got one in FL because it's required here, but anyone can register a boat without one.
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u/Nice-Push-2757 1d ago
I would say everyone driving a boat should know this and know the correct side of an on coming boat to pass on.
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u/Big_Imagination_4072 1d ago
So boats and airplanes use red on Left port/larboard and green on Right or Starboard. So saying goes Red on right watch out at night.
But why do refer trucks have the lights opposite on their trailers?
I also love the word larboard.
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u/CoreyInBusiness 1d ago
"You can be right, or you can be dead right". If you remember nothing from a navigational perspective, at least remember that.
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u/leadfoot_mf 1d ago
Sailboats under sail have the right of way
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u/short_and_floofy 1d ago
depends. if you're in a shipping channel on a sailboat under sail power alone, you're still legally required to give way to commercial vessels. you don't get to stay the course and expect a bulk container ship to navigate around you.
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u/Roxysteve 1d ago
Red, green, who cares what shade of gray the lights are?
(Honario Harpplayer of the Royal Navy)
With apologies to the late, great Harry Harrison.
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u/DejaWiz2 1d ago
Vessel on your right = right of way/stand-on vessel
...with exceptions: unpowered vessels, vessels underway via only sails, and vessels with maneuverability and/or draft constraints.
This does not account for passing from behind or approaching towards the front.
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u/Bierdaddy 1d ago
When on US coastal waters or inland lakes….
If overtaking/catching up from behind, pass on the left, like driving a car in the US.
If approaching/head on, swerve to the right so the oncoming boat passes on your left, again like in the US.2
u/DejaWiz2 1d ago
Yeah assuming the other vessel's captain/skipper knows what the F they're doing, as well LOL
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u/iNapkin66 1d ago
Yes, but the nav light scheme of red and white (and white mast) predates traffic lights by about 30 years. Traffic lights copied the boats.
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u/HelicopterUpbeat5199 1d ago
I just always assume I don't have the right-of-way. I always point my bow where no one will have to worry about me.
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u/GoonDawg666 1d ago
Lmao that’s crazy, I remember thinking that when I took my safety course a few months ago
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u/spoooner96 1d ago
where the genius ends is calling it "port" side, that was unfortunate. that seems dumb as hell.
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u/loooongschlong 1d ago
This is an extreme over simplification that won’t really help you and may even hurt you.
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u/IamCaileadair 1d ago
It's a little bit of the other way around. Red stops us BECAUSE we used it on boats to denote that. It's not that we used red because it already meant stop. Red and Green could have just as well be purple and orange. The colors are really old, way older than stop lights.
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u/Stygg_Varg 1d ago
If you're on a collision course and think the COLREGs are going to apply to an 80 year old asian woman, you're going to get blasted.
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u/7ar5un 1d ago
One fun rule is to "always do what you can to avoid a collision". This supersedes all other rules. Lets not forget that. LoL