Point System (nautical)

The point system is a common way of identifying the location of contacts relative to the heading of a ship.

[1] The lookout, when having sighted something beyond the ship, will call out the object's location by stating its position relative to the bow, stern, or beam of the ship, noting whether on the port or starboard side when applicable.

Additionally, a special designation is given to objects that sit four points ahead of the beam, being referred to as broad on the port/starboard bow.

[3] The point system is most commonly used on board merchant ships and recreational sailing vessels.

Naval ships instead tend to use relative bearings by degrees port or starboard of dead ahead.