LogFAQs > #979583428

Maritime pilots and ship captain are different positions - at least to my very limited understanding since I didn't really have cause to look into the matter before today.

The US requires foreign ships to have pilots to navigate US harbors. Baltimore in particular, AFAIK, uses local pilots who are very familiar with the conditions and tides in the area to help the captain and crew navigate in and out of the harbor. The Dali had two pilots on board - the senior/one-in-charge having ordered the crew to drop anchor and try to turn hard to the left as best they could to reduce speed in an attempt to stop the ship, or at least slow it, prior to the collision. Ultimately it didn't work, as we saw