California · Harbors and Navigation Code - HNC
HNC §1134: When a pilot goes aboard a vessel, the pilot becomes a servant of the vessel and its owner and operator.
What this law says, in plain English
When a pilot boards a vessel, the pilot becomes a servant of the vessel's owner and operator.
Read the full statutory text
When a pilot goes aboard a vessel, the pilot becomes a servant of the vessel and its owner and operator. Nothing in this division exempts the vessel or its owner or operator from liability to persons or property for damage or loss caused by the vessel or its operation on the ground that (1) the vessel was piloted by a pilot, or (2) the damage or loss was incurred as a result of the error, omission, fault, or neglect of a pilot.
Verify at the official source: California legislative text
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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.