Facing the front of a ship, what is the left side called?
AnswerPort
Port is the left side when facing forward; starboard is the right.
Vehicles · Facts & stats
Maritime facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about ships and the sea, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
A speed of one knot equals one what per hour?
AnswerNautical mile
A knot is one nautical mile per hour, the standard speed unit at sea and in aviation.
Going deeper
What does the Plimsoll line painted on a ship's hull show?
AnswerThe maximum safe loading depth
The Plimsoll or load line marks how deep a ship may safely sit in the water when loaded.
Which United Nations agency sets global rules for shipping safety?
AnswerInternational Maritime Organization
The IMO, based in London, sets international standards for ship safety and pollution prevention.
The Pharos of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was what?
AnswerA lighthouse
The Pharos was a giant lighthouse built on an island at Alexandria, Egypt, in the 3rd century BC.
Expert level
The distress call 'Mayday' comes from a phrase in which language?
AnswerFrench
Mayday comes from the French 'm'aider', meaning 'help me'.
What does a sextant measure?
AnswerThe angle between a celestial body and the horizon
Navigators use a sextant to measure a star or the Sun's angle above the horizon to find latitude.
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