The
starboard side of a Viking ship was the side that was
steered from. The board that stuck into the water on that side was called the starboard. This was before they figured out what a
rudder was, which is much nicer being in the center of the
boat and all.
Anyway, since the starboard side had this oar looking thingy hanging off the side, it was no good for pulling up next to the pier. Hence the other side was nearly always against the pier, and was where things such as people, supplies, and looted items from the villages they pillaged were loaded and unloaded. The word lar somehow conveys this meaning of loading. Well since larboard and starboard could be so easily confused, the larboard side was renamed to port, thus still conveying the original meaning.