State Pilotage System Operations & Statistics
In 2025, State Pilots oversaw 9,515 vessel arrivals and departures throughout New York State's Pilotage waters. These figures exclude U.S. Government and U.S. Military vessels, as well as ocean-going barge traffic and U.S.-flag vessels operating under enrollment, which are not subject to compulsory State Pilotage. Vessels entering and departing New York State waters represent a wide range of ship types, including container vessels, passenger vessels, tankers, general cargo vessels, and vehicle carriers.
New York State Pilots supported another 3,399 intra-harbor transits, cable laying operations and other vessel movements throughout New York's Pilotage waters in 2025. These additional operations are essential to maintaining the safe and efficient movement of vessels in some of the Nation's most congested waterways.
Number of Pilots:
Sandy Hook: In 2025, there were 67 Sandy Hook Pilots serving the Port of New York/New Jersey. 33 were licensed by New York with one New York Sandy Hook Pilot cross-assigned to the Hudson River.
Hudson River: In 2025, there were four Full Branch Pilots working exclusively on the Hudson River. In addition, there was one Sandy Hook Pilot licensed for the entire Hudson River and seven Sandy Hook Pilots licensed for the lower Hudson River to assist during periods of increased vessel activity.
Northeast Marine Pilots: In 2025, there were 11 Full Branch Pilots licensed to serve the waters of the Long Island Sound/Block Island Sound, providing Pilotage from Point Judith, Rhode Island to City Island, New York. Six Sandy Hook Pilots are also licensed in the Long Island Sound/Block Island Sound as part of a Joint Pilot Rotation System implemented between the States of New York and Connecticut.
Apprentices: There are six New York and five New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilot Apprentices under the direction of the Apprentice Training Committee of the United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Association. Two new Apprentice Pilots were registered in 2025 – Ryan L. Dashkoff (N.J.), SUNY Maritime (2019), and Gage P. Reamy (N.Y.), Massachusetts Maritime (2020).
For additional training, Apprentice Pilots serve as navigation watch officers on Pilot Boats NEW YORK and NEW JERSEY, and operate Pilot Launches to and from vessels and the offshore Pilot Station.
1. SHIP MOVEMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR N.Y. & N.J. SANDY HOOK PILOTS:
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2. SHIP MOVEMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR LONG ISLAND SOUND /BLOCK ISLAND SOUND N.Y. LICENSED PILOTS:
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3. SHIP MOVEMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR HUDSON RIVER PILOTS ASSOCIATION:
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4. TOTAL STATE PILOTAGE ASSIGNMENTS; ALL PILOTAGE DISTRICTS:
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*Pilot Assignments include intra-harbor movements, continuing education, training, and maintenance