Exactly but the pilot has no control over the mechanics of the ship. If something fails he is as helpless as anyone else.
Go down to Pilottown, Louisiana and talk to a river pilot. They know every inch of the river and can guide any ship at anytime, but not without power. Even with power, if a barge gets in their way, the barge is going to get struck.
They are interesting people, they learn the river from their fathers, who learned the river from their father, and they make a very good living.
“Exactly but the pilot has no control over the mechanics of the ship. If something fails he is as helpless as anyone else.”
Well that makes him pretty useless.