Tulecreeper
Well-known member
Not true. The ship's captain always maintains overriding authority on his/her vessel.Pilot has ultimate authority to decide if conditions are satisfactory to navigate the waterway. Weather conditions, ship conditions, crew condition, or any other thing they might find of concern. If the pilot says no go, it doesn't go.
There are reports the ship was having power problems while at the dock, loading.
This is true.The harbor pilot is actually never in charge, the vessels master or senior officer is and he can override at anytime the harbor pilots instructions to the helm. Otherwise, the harbor pilot, has nothing to do with the internal operation of the vessel and has zero authority on board other than his limited authority in the navigation of the vessel.