Before ships had rudders, they were steered by an oar which was positioned on the quarter. This side was known as the "steer board side" which, over time, was corrupted to "starboard side." For a long time, the other side of a ship was known as the "larboard" side, even into the 1700s. This led to confusion and difficulty in giving orders during storms, etc., where it might be easily confused between starboard and larboard. Since the larboard side was also the side of the vessel which was placed against a pier or dock, it became known as the "port" side, i.e. When you went into port, that side of the ship was against the pier.
Phambi kokuba iinqanawe zibe nee rudders', zaziqhutywa ngesibhexi esasibekwe kwikota. Eli cala lalisaziwa njenge "steer board side", elathi kamva laguqukela ekwaziweni njenge "starboard side".