Boatnerd Discussion Forum

A ship is always in follow up (hand steering) from well outside the piers to the dock (and also in the rivers/locks). This way the Captain/Pilot can react to ever changing conditions with immediate response from the wheelsman. It will NEVER be in autopilot going through a pier like that.

Boy, it would be hard to imagine that a master would let the computer bring a ship of that size in through the canal.

I watched the American Integrity enter the Duluth entry canal via webcam this morning and wondered whether a helmsman was steering the ship or if an autopilot was following a set course.