Starboard Beam

The direction approximately at right angles to the vessel’s centreline on its starboard side.

An object abeam to starboard has a relative bearing close to 090 degrees. In less precise speech, ‘on the starboard beam’ can refer to a small sector around that direction rather than exactly one bearing.

The reference turns with the vessel and is not a true or magnetic direction. Reports should add bearing, distance and movement where required for navigation or collision assessment.