7 ms·

I’m fairly confident that the “bow” in that case is always the direction of travel in this case and that starboard/port side change. The lighting scheme on shi

I’m fairly confident that the “bow” in that case is always the direction of travel in this case and that starboard/port side change. The lighting scheme on ships indicates the starboard side with a green light and the port side with a red light. This allows ships to figure out which way another ship is heading - especially at night. If you can see the red light on the left and green on the right while facing the other ship it’s going away from you, if it’s reversed then it’s coming towards you. If you can only see green it’s going to your right, to your left if you can see red. Retaining that property is important for navigation, so starboard and port have to swap sides.

stonemetal12 4y ago
Pretty much every boat with onboard motors are capable of reversing thrust. Do they all switch like that when traveling in reverse? (Serious question, not a boat person, never been on a boat that wasn't a ferry )
- uoaei 4y ago
  No, but you've already decided a direction that the bow points when using the word "reverse".
- jprete 4y ago
  I don’t think boats travel in reverse very often because it’s inefficient to do so. If the boat is going in reverse, it’s probably docking, maneuvering, or having problems. In any of those cases, the crew should be situationally aware enough, and the boat slow enough, that they don’t need color-coded lights to keep themselves from causing a collision.
- KineticLensman 4y ago
  Steering can be much harder in reverse because the rudder is now at the wrong end.
- Xylakant 4y ago
  “Normal” boats only go in reverse when they are maneuvering, never for extended distances and at travel speeds. Unless they’re purpose built they never travel in reverse - rudders are less efficient if going reverse, propellers are as well, and hulls are shaped to reduce drag when going forward. You’ll basically only see boats going in reverse in harbors or exceptional circumstances. In harbors, speeds are generally low and extra caution is required of all ships. For exceptional circumstances, you’ll have special ways of communicating this - specific lighting patterns, flags, horns to warn others.

stonemetal12 4y ago

Pretty much every boat with onboard motors are capable of reversing thrust. Do they all switch like that when traveling in reverse? (Serious question, not a boat person, never been on a boat that wasn't a ferry )

uoaei 4y ago
No, but you've already decided a direction that the bow points when using the word "reverse".
jprete 4y ago
I don’t think boats travel in reverse very often because it’s inefficient to do so. If the boat is going in reverse, it’s probably docking, maneuvering, or having problems. In any of those cases, the crew should be situationally aware enough, and the boat slow enough, that they don’t need color-coded lights to keep themselves from causing a collision.
KineticLensman 4y ago
Steering can be much harder in reverse because the rudder is now at the wrong end.
Xylakant 4y ago
“Normal” boats only go in reverse when they are maneuvering, never for extended distances and at travel speeds. Unless they’re purpose built they never travel in reverse - rudders are less efficient if going reverse, propellers are as well, and hulls are shaped to reduce drag when going forward. You’ll basically only see boats going in reverse in harbors or exceptional circumstances. In harbors, speeds are generally low and extra caution is required of all ships. For exceptional circumstances, you’ll have special ways of communicating this - specific lighting patterns, flags, horns to warn others.