The
stern is the back or
aft-most part of a
ship or
boat, technically defined as the area built up over the
sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the
taffrail. The stern lies opposite of the
bow, the foremost part of a ship. Originally, the term only referred to the aft port section of the ship, but eventually came to refer to the entire back of a vessel. The stern end of a ship is indicated with a white
navigation light at night.