[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.

[expatpat]

For the Delawaare Bay and Philly, the pilot goes aboard at the entrance to the bay, where it meets the ocean. We had the Pilot's office buiding and pilot boats next door to our condo in Lewes, DE.