This. Normally the ships have an American pilot at the helm when entering/exiting the harbor. The pilot boards the ship out at sea then takes control and pilots it into the ship channel and docks it with the help of the tugs.
The same thing used to happen back when the US owned the Panama Canal Zone. Pan American (the company that ran the canal) sent pilots to captain vessels through the locks and the 8-hour canal transit, ESPECIALLY for ships of the Warsaw Pact nations... Russian, Cuban, East German, and Chinese ships.
Most of those ships were well kept and orderly, but the absolute WORST were the Cuban ships. A lot of rusty scows that were slovenly and lubberly, manned by indifferent crewman, and the only cargo they generally carried was sugar cane being exported by Cuba for cash. After sugar cane had been stored in a compartment for a day or two, in tropical climates, the entire ship smelled like the bottom of a spittoon.
I know because I had to go on those ships as part of my duties way back then.
Twitter says the captain was Ukrainian is that true?
The captain doesn't guide the ship in situations like this, an experienced pilot comes onboard to steer the ship.
This. Normally the ships have an American pilot at the helm when entering/exiting the harbor. The pilot boards the ship out at sea then takes control and pilots it into the ship channel and docks it with the help of the tugs.
The same thing used to happen back when the US owned the Panama Canal Zone. Pan American (the company that ran the canal) sent pilots to captain vessels through the locks and the 8-hour canal transit, ESPECIALLY for ships of the Warsaw Pact nations... Russian, Cuban, East German, and Chinese ships.
Most of those ships were well kept and orderly, but the absolute WORST were the Cuban ships. A lot of rusty scows that were slovenly and lubberly, manned by indifferent crewman, and the only cargo they generally carried was sugar cane being exported by Cuba for cash. After sugar cane had been stored in a compartment for a day or two, in tropical climates, the entire ship smelled like the bottom of a spittoon.
I know because I had to go on those ships as part of my duties way back then.