Red and Green - why is it?

[lady_stormrider]

Look - I might get shot down for asking this but:

Why is port red and starboard green?

Is this the origin of the phrase 'Red and green must never be seen' ?

This has arisen off a non-boaty forum and I don't know the answer.

[jim.r]

to confuse the Vikings who were all colour blind, so that when raping and pillaging they did'nt know if they were coming or going!

[lady_stormrider]

Hmm...I'm considering usig the naughty step here.....

[ash]

Look - I might get shot down for asking this but:
Is this the origin of the phrase 'Red and green must never be seen' ?

Suggestions on the WWW

"Red and red or green and green, but red and green should never be seen". This supposedly refers to shipping at night. If you can see your red (or green) light and the other ships red (or green) light, you are passing in opposite directions. If one is red and one green, you are travelling in the same direction, possibly at an angle to each other, and may collide.

At night, an oncomng vessel will show both red and green only if it is heading straight for you.

The Fred Astaire film Funny Face has a female fashion editor say at one point "Red and Green should never be seen" - so presumably it was a fashion rule in 1950's USA.

Irish Queens also mentioned a lot.

Ash

[ash]

Look - I might get shot down for asking this but:

Why is port red and starboard green?

Copied from Road Traffic Lights? Stand on if you see green, give way / stop if you see red. What came first - the colours or the rules?

Ash - Where's that 'Tongue in Cheek Emicon when you need it!

[Old Troll]

A very interesting question. "If to starboard should red appear it is your duty to keep clear". Methinks the comments relating to stop or take evasive action on seeing red and stand on vessel or go on seeing green are close to the answer. There must be some of the oracles on here who can answer this question.

[ubergeekian]

Red lights can be seen a lot further than green. Of course that may explain why the vessel seeing red is give-way, not why red is on the port side in the first place.

[lady_stormrider]

Thanks very much for all the contributions, especially Mr Geekian. Should you be on the TV discussing Bosun Higgs being found?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18693744

[jim.r]

Captain Davies Evans seems to be culpable!

[ubergeekian]

Thanks very much for all the contributions, especially Mr Geekian. Should you be on the TV discussing Bosun Higgs being found?

Clearly yes. Alas the BBC is run by philistines who don't appreciate me.

[mm5aho]

My grandfather taught me the saying to remember the colours and sides...
"There is some red port left". (meaning residual fortified red wine).
So I always assumed it came from there... That Red / Port / Left was the origin...

[ash]

Look - I might get shot down for asking this but:

No bullets flying yet.

So, back in the day when ships were steeered by an oar strapped to the side it would be easier for the (right handed) helmsman if the oar was on the starboard side of the ship. It would seem sensible to have the helmsman give way to the vessels that he could see (to his starboard ). Red can be seen further so put the red light on the port side of the other vessel. The give way vessel can only change from the collision course by dipping behind the other vessel so the give way vessel turns to starboard. If we have decided that the give way vessel turns to starboard, then with two yachts hard on the wind, the vessel that can change course by bearing away to starboard has to be the give way vessel, so port tack gives way whilst starboard stands on.

When did the colour red become associated with danger / stop? Is it because of the colour of blood?

It would be better to have the side of the vessel without the steering oar next to the dock to prevent damage so that side would be the port side.

POSH - Port Out - Starboard Home

Any other nuggets?

Ash

[ubergeekian]

POSH - Port Out - Starboard Home

I read somewhere (it's that academic precision again) that somebody went through the entire booking records of P&O for the years of empire and found not a single occurrence of anyone booking Port Out Starboard Home ...

[lady_stormrider]

That must be an AWFUL lot of records - seeing as they are celebrating 175 years with their 7 biggest liners in Southampton

[DaveS]

POSH - Port Out - Starboard Home

I read somewhere (it's that academic precision again) that somebody went through the entire booking records of P&O for the years of empire and found not a single occurrence of anyone booking Port Out Starboard Home ...

I do it when flying: heading south: AM - seat F, PM - seat A; heading north: AM - seat A, PM - seat F. I prefer a window seat but don't like the sun in my eyes.