[Strategerist]

Actually the pilot comes on board out in the ocean, just outside Delaware Bay, and a good 125 miles away from Philadelphia.

One thing I think many people caught up in "terror ship" hype aren't aware of is that every tanker and freighter that enters a US port is guided there by an American pilot who comes on board and takes over, and that these pilots typically get on the ship quite a long way from any ports or cities.

Conceivable that the "pilot" was confused with "ship's master" somehow.

[johnfrink]

Any more info on how this is handled? Do they just bring one American on board and then let him pilot the thing into the port? I'm thinking a small group of terrorists could easily overpower one guy...might make more sense to send a small team of armed guards to accompany the pilot, eh?

[Chad Fairbanks]

That's what I'm thinking, too. The pilot may have seen or heard something and reported it.

Probably just a case of some journalist saying "... but if I put 'pilot', my stupid readers will get confused because everyone knows ships don't have pilots. Planes do..."

[jamaly]

Actually the pilot comes on board out in the ocean, just outside Delaware Bay, and a good 125 miles away from Philadelphia. Conceivable that the "pilot" was confused with "ship's master" somehow.

As far as I know the pilot comes on board alone and unarmed. There would be absolutely nothing to stop a terrorists for forcing the pilot to crash the ship or just killing the pilot and doing it himself.

[Samwise]

every tanker and freighter that enters a US port is guided there by an American pilot who comes on board and takes over, and that these pilots typically get on the ship quite a long way from any ports or cities.

Thanks for that info.