Why "port And Starboard" Instead Of "left And Right"?

[RSDonovan]

As a landlubber, I always have to think about which way is Port and which is Starboard. Is there a reason that nautical folk use terms for which there are alternatives which everyone knows intuitively?

[237SJ]

..and the colour of the navigation lights is easy to remember. Port (the drink) is red.
I wonder if the names came from port being port side and starboard being named from the days they navigated by the stars.

[Hopkirk]

I hate 'nearside' and 'offside' for cars - too confusing.

If you take your car to a country where they drive on the wrong side of the road, presumably the N/S and O/S reverse. Or do they?

If you get a left hooker in this country, some might think the N/S is the O/S for that car.

[craft1948]

I don't like a forward cabin, especially if there's rough seas...............