“It’s difficult to explain to people how long it takes one of these tubs of lard to respond to pilot commands.”
I’ve talked to Mississippi River river pilots and they train all of their lives for the job and know the river at ever point, but there is nothing they can do, except drop anchor if a ship loses power. Even if a ship is powered and a errant barge gets in the channel, there is nothing they can do.
Valid point...
A question worth getting an answer to is why didn’t the anchor get dropped..
Question is, would the ship have stopped on a dime?