Do ocean liners pass on the left or the right? port or starboard?

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Lew

When coming toward each other, they pass port to port.

When one ship is overtaking another there is only one rule. Any vessel overtaking any other vessel must keep out the way of the vessel being overtaken. The overtaking ship can pass on either side but has to allow the other vessel ample sea room.

Anja H

Depends on the situation, who has the right of way, when 2 ships are on a crossing path.

Since the ships are equipped with Navigation lights, it works like a traffic light.

Right-of-Way lights - On ships, aircraft and manned spacecraft, a red light will be mounted on the left or port side of the craft and a green on the right or starboard side. These help two craft on a collision course determine who has right-of-way: if a pilot sees a craft on a path crossing his own, he will see either its red running light or green running light. If he sees green, he is to the impinging craft's starboard and has the right of way. If the pilot sees the red light, he knows that the approaching craft has the right-of-way, and he is required to deviate from his course to avoid the collision.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

I have been on many cruises and have very rarely even seen any other cruise ship, let alone pass one. The only exception is usually leaving the departure port and returning to it. But even then the ships are 4 or 5 miles apart and heading in the same direction. Cruise ships are busy 7 days a week and so many leave ports on the same day. When they are leaving the port its more like how do I get away from the pier safely and into open ocean than any concern about passing on port or starboard side. Its the same when ships encounter other types of ships, like cargo or tankers. The distance between ships is usually so far that you can barely see the other and the ships generally keep their heading rather than try to steer port or starboard. Its safer that way too.

dave.greg

Don't really know, but, I was on the Alaska cruise and I believe, we stayed to the right (east) on the way north and on the Right (West) when heading south.
Is this law or just the way it turned out on that trip? I don't know.

James P

Right, i.e. port side to port side. Same as for cars (that's automobiles to some of you) in America and continental Europe, but the opposite of cars in the UK and some other countries. It is prescribed by the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea.

googie

Ocean liners usually pass oncoming ships on their port side. Isn't that the same for automobiles ?

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