I'll agree with you 100%, but that was the ruling on this deal down here.That is surprising. I'm not a merchant mariner, nor do I profess to be so my information is all (at least) second-hand. It is my understanding that the pilot is the responsible party when the ship is under their direction, and that the Captain takes his navigational directions from that pilot. That's why the pilot is onboard.
I always thought the pilot was responsible.