3:20 p.m. Captain Scott M. Driscoll climbs a rope and wood ladder to board the ship Clipper Maria that was inbound to Mobile Bay, Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. The boarding process takes place while both vessels are on the move, and occurs regularly. Ships coming into and heading out of Mobile are piloted by employees of Mobile Bar Pilots, LLC. Mobile’s first bar pilot was appointed 300 years ago by King Louis XIV.