Port Beam
The direction approximately at right angles to the vessel’s centreline on its port side.
An object abeam to port has a relative bearing close to 270 degrees, or 90 degrees to the left of the bow. In less precise speech, ‘on the port beam’ may refer to a small sector around that direction rather than exactly one bearing.
The reference turns with the vessel and is not a geographic direction. Reports should add bearing, distance and movement when required for navigation or collision assessment.
