Pilotage thumb|right|Navigation on a US naval vessel in Nigerian waters with a local pilot. Most commercial vessels in excess of size limits determined by local authorities are handled in confined areas by a maritime (or marine) pilot. Marine pilots are seafarers with extensive seafaring experience and are usually qualified master mariners who have been trained as expert ship-handlers. These pilots should be conversant with all types of vessel in their local waters and possess a good knowledge of the different propulsion systems, as well as handling ships of all sizes in all weather and tidal conditions. They are also experts in the geographical areas they work. In most countries, the pilot takes over the 'conduct' of the navigation from the ship master. This means that the master and crew should adhere to the pilot's orders in respect of the safe navigation of the vessel when in a compulsory pilotage area. However, the master may with good cause resume 'conduct' of the vessel's navigation but this is not done lightly. In some countries and areas (eg the United Kingdom and the United States of America), the pilot's role is as an advisor. However, in practice, they are likely to have the conduct of the vessel, especially on larger ships using tug boats to assist. In some places, specifically in the Panama Canal, a pilot assumes command of a vessel and is not classed as "an advisor". Other instances may be crossing the sill of a drydock, or in any port in Russia (or ex-Soviet States). This distinction is important because when a pilot is in command, the master can not take any action, but is limited to advising the pilot on any circumstance that creates what he considers a dangerous situation.
Pilotage thumb|right|Navigation on a US naval vessel in Nigerian waters with a local pilot Most commercial vessels in excess of size limits determined by local authorities are handled in confined areas by a maritime (or marine) pilot Marine pilots are seafarers with extensive seafaring experience and are usually qualified master mariners who have been trained as expert ship-handlers These pilots should be conversant with all types of vessel in their local waters and possess a good knowledge of the different propulsion systems as well as handling ships of all sizes in all weather and tidal conditions They are also experts in the geographical areas they work In most countries the pilot takes over the 'conduct' of the navigation from the ship master This means that the master and crew should adhere to the pilot's orders in respect of the safe navigation of the vessel when in a compulsory pilotage area However the master may with good cause resume 'conduct' of the vessel's navigation but this is not done lightly In some countries and areas (eg the United Kingdom and the United States of America) the pilot's role is as an advisor However in practice they are likely to have the conduct of the vessel especially on larger ships using tug boats to assist In some places specifically in the Panama Canal a pilot assumes command of a vessel and is not classed as "an advisor" Other instances may be crossing the sill of a drydock or in any port in Russia (or ex-Soviet States) This distinction is important because when a pilot is in command the master can not take any action but is limited to advising the pilot on any circumstance that creates what he considers a dangerous situation