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Use of "Left" and "Right" in Orders Governing Movements of the Rudder

Related Resources: Port and Starboard: General Order, 18 February 1846

GENERAL ORDER NO. 30

NAVY DEPARTMENT,

Washington, D.C., May 5, 1913

ORDERS GOVERNING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE RUDDER.

1. On and after July 1, 1913, the present designations "starboard" and "port" governing movements of a ship's helm are hereby ordered discontinued in orders and directions to the steersman, and the terms "right" and "left," referring to movement of the ship's head, shall thereafter be used instead.

2. The orders as to rudder angle shall be given in such terms as "Ten degrees rudder; half-rudder; standard rudder; full rudder;" etc, so that a complete order would be "Right --- Half Rudder,: etc.

3. Commanders in chief and commanding officers acting independently may, in their discretion, institute the above changes at an earlier date.

F. D. ROOSEVELT,

Acting Secretary of the Navy.

10 July 1999