A WEEK AFTER THE EVENT - 2 APRIL, 2024
In all of the massive news coverage, it goes without saying, except by a very few, that my "as the event was unfolding" comments pointed the finger of responsibility directly to one person ... what I murmured as an aside, has still not been explained, repeated or addressed.
This is fully, 100%, unequivocally, on the Port of Baltimore Port Manager/Port Captain... it is his decision as to what length or tonnage a vessel must have to require "assist", 300 foot usually is the trigger point, depending on which harbor in the port the vessel ties... try to find out "who" that is... go ahead, use AI, use Google, try every combination of search term you want....
For perhaps 150 years now, world ports and harbors have made it mandatory (jail sentence, loss of license implied) that no vessel will leave the seaway to enter a port or estuary unless... the vessel is piloted by a local harbor/port pilot who is familiar with navigating the area, rule 2 has been whenever storms, native currents, native winds, narrow passages, canals, High/Low tides, ship channel ties, locks, overpasses, turns in the waterway route, or a high population of vessels are present... "NO" vessel will (piloted or not) leave the open seaway without tug boat(s) assist to the berthing dock or leaving port (until the vessel is clear, of the estuary, harbor, or port... and releases its port pilot (to the departing tug boat(s) thereby returning self-navigation/self-propulsion back to the registered vessel commander ("in"... the open seaway).
Port Managers (Port Captains) have in most ports done away with the old rules of mandatory pilots and tugs (both) to make themselves more price competitive to cargo companies, or by sheer lack of experience by believing that using bow-stern thruster and pod engine mounts and adjuncts to sat-nav and close sonar/radar devices as the reason why... none of which places "control" of the vessel into port Captain hands for navigation within the port (via a pilot or tugs).
Like cutting back 50% on your police force, to simultaneously save money and reduce crime ... great savings... now, if we manage this right, we can get more money to improve (non-tug boat-non pilot) navigation and maybe get bonuses for everyone with the money we save ! Let's ask Transportation expert Buttigieg.