On the Starboard Bow
In a direction forward of the vessel’s starboard beam and to the right of its heading.
The expression gives a relative sector rather than an exact bearing. A contact anywhere between nearly dead ahead and nearly abeam to starboard may be described this way, with a relative bearing or clock bearing added when greater precision is needed.
The reference moves with the vessel’s heading and is not a true or magnetic direction. Reports should identify the object and, where relevant, its bearing, distance and movement so that the person conning can assess it correctly.
