Here's what I found
I foud a web site at: http://desertanchor.com/shared/glossary.htm that gives the following explanations: Port: (1) The left side of the ship when facing forward, The original term was "larboard" . . . but the possibility of confusing shouted or indistinct orders to steer to larboard with steering to starboard at a crucial moment was both obvious and serious, The term was legally changed to 'port' in the British Navy in 1844, and in the American Navy in 1846, The word 'port' was taken from the fact that ships traditionally took on cargo over their left sides, i.e., the side of the vessel facing the port. This was probably a holdover from much earlier times when ships had Steering-boards over the right side aft; obviously, you couldn't maneuver such a vessel starboard side to the pier without crushing your steering oar. (See: Starboard,) (2) A porthole. Starboard: The right side of the ship when facing forward. The name is a very old one, derived from the Anglo-Saxon term Steorbord, or Steering-board, Ancient vessels were steered not by a rudder amidships, but by a long oar or Steering-board extended over the vessel's right side aft. This became known, in time, as the Steering-board side or starboard. Ther's lots of web sites out there. Use any search engine and look uo "nautical terminology". Have fun!
