Q: Is the pilot in charge?
A: Not officially, The ship's captain retains his complete authority. The pilot's role on a ship is that of adviser, but his commands are typically given the same weight as those of the master.

Q: Where does the pilot work?
A: The pilot usually stands at the front of the glass-enclosed wheel house, where he has a nearly 180-degree view of the ship's surroundings from the height of a 13-story building. From that position, he calls steering and engine commands, telling the quartermaster whether to steer left (port) or right (starboard), and how fast the ship should go.

Q: Why is a pilot needed?
A: State law requires that local pilots guide ships along the Louisiana waterways. Foreign crews lack the knowledge needed to deal with navigational hazards on the river because they rarely visit the area. Also constantly changing currents and water levels make local knowledge imperative.

Q:What about other states?
A: Other coastal states also require all large foreign vessels to use the service of a local pilot while navigating state waters.

Q: Does one pilot guide a ship up or down the river?
A: No. The job is split between at least three pilots if a ship travels all the way to Baton Rogue. The lower Mississippi is split into three areas, each with a group of pilots to guide ships through those waters: the Mississippi from its mouth to Pilottown, a small island in Plaquemines Parish; Pilottown to near New Orleans; and New Orleans to Baton Rouge. A fourth group of river pilots operates on the Calcasieu River near Lake Charles.