1.4 Shipboard Positions and Direction
Ship Division
Ship division is where a vessel is divided into different sections.
From the stem at the fore end, to the stern at the aft end.The vessel is divided into two halves, down the centre. This is the fore-aft line or longitudinal centre line.
This line allows us to divide the vessel into the port side and starboard side. Red is used to indicate port and green for starboard.
The central part of the vessel running from bow to stern between the forward and aft is amidships.
On the port side, we can find the port bow, the port beam and the port quarter.
On the starboard side the starboard bow, the starboard beam and the starboard quarter.
Athwartships is across the ship at right angles to the fore-aft centre line.
Ship Direction
When a vessel is in motion, we refer to ship direction. When moving either by power or by sail, we say a vessel is underway.
When moving forward she is preceding ahead. When moving backwards, she is moving astern.
We also use port and starboard for ship direction with degrees for navigation.