Hudson River Pilots

Name

Hudson River Pilots

Legal name

Hudson River Pilots Association

Website

https://hudsonriverpilots.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Pilotage Services

NAICS

Navigational Services to Shipping (48833), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Inland Water Transportation (48321)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

River & Inland Waterway Pilots (TLAHAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Harbor Pilots (Compulsory Pilotage) (TLAHAGAA)

Keywords

• Maritime pilotage services
• Vessel navigation assistance
• Hudson River pilotage
• Commercial shipping services
• River transportation guidance

Headquarters

HQ city

Yonkers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Pilotage Services: Unit-based pilotage fees calculated by Pilotage Units (LOA x Beam x Depth / 10,000) with tiered pricing by zone. Zone 1 covers Yonkers to Hyde Park (lower river); Zone 2 covers Hyde Park to Albany/Troy (upper river). Rates effective January 1, 2026 with surcharges and launch fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hudson River Pilots Association provides federally and state-licensed maritime pilotage services for ocean-going vessels, commercial ships, Jones Act tug/barge operators, and foreign or enrolled yachts transiting the 110-mile Hudson River from Yonkers to Albany/Troy. Services include Lower River (Zone 1) and Upper River (Zone 2) pilotage, launch boat services at two pilot stations, yacht pilotage per state navigation law, tide and current predictions, and coordinated winter ice navigation through USCG-designated meeting/passing zones.

Product overview

Hudson River Pilots is a federally and state-licensed maritime pilotage association providing vessel navigation services along the Hudson River. The organization offers Zone 1 (Lower River) and Zone 2 (Upper River) pilotage services, supplemented by launch boat services at Yonkers and Norrie Point Pilot Stations. Additional offerings include yacht pilotage, real-time tide/current prediction services, and specialized winter ice navigation coordination. The service portfolio spans 110 miles of the Hudson River from Yonkers to Albany/Troy, guiding ocean vessels through tidal estuaries, narrow channels, and bridge passages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lower River Pilotage Services (Zone 1) Maritime pilotage services for the Lower Hudson River transit from Yonkers Pilot Station to Hyde Park (Norrie Point), covering 56 miles including 6 bridges and the sharp turns at the US Military Academy at West Point, with approximately 5.5 hours transit time. Minimum vertical clearance of 2 feet at any tide stage required to pass under all bridges. Maximum draft 32 feet FW for vessels on the lower river.
• Upper River Pilotage Services (Zone 2) Maritime pilotage services for the Upper Hudson River from Hyde Park (Norrie Point) to Albany or Troy, covering 54 miles through a narrow 400-foot navigable channel north of Kingston, taking 6-7.5 hours depending on vessel characteristics. Maximum draft 30 feet FW; vessels with 27-30 ft drafts must coordinate with rising tide. Total transit Yonkers to Albany is 11-13 hours.
• Launch Services Launch boat service for vessels at Yonkers and Norrie Point Pilot Stations, including crew changes, mechanical needs, and stores runs. Rates are $700 for the first 2 hours and $350 per hour thereafter at both stations. Zone 1 Launch Fee $2.99 per Pilotage Unit; Zone 2 Launch Fee $2.63 per Pilotage Unit.
• Yacht Pilotage Services State-required pilotage services for foreign or enrolled yachts from Yonkers to Federal Lock in Troy, NY, accommodating yachts up to 200 feet in length at marinas and docks in Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Catskill, and Albany. Includes hurricane avoidance support as demonstrated during Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
• Tide and Current Predictions Real-time and forecast tide and current data for multiple stations along the Hudson River including Albany, Schodack Island, Norrie Point, and 39th Street, powered by Stevens Institute of Technology and NOAA. Data is used to determine optimal transit times for vessels with drafts of 27-32 feet.
• Winter Ice Navigation Services Coordinated ice navigation and vessel communication strategies for the Upper Hudson River, including 6 USCG ice-breaking meeting/passing zones (8 designated meeting/passing zones referenced across sources) for safer vessel transit during heavy ice conditions. Coordinated with USCG and tug/barge companies; use of meeting/passing zones is voluntary and subject to vessel operator judgment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transit times of 5.5 hours for lower river (56 miles), 6-7.5 hours for upper river (54 miles), total 11-13 hours Yonkers to Albany

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New York Board of Commissioners of PilotscoreOthersRegulatory oversight body for pilots in New York. Hudson River Pilots operates under state licensing and commission from this board.
• Sandy Hook Pilots AssociationminorOthersMaritime pilotage association for the Sandy Hook region. Industry peer organization for professional navigation services.
• Albany Port District CommissioncoreOthersPort authority for Albany. Hudson River Pilots provide pilotage services to vessels calling at Port of Albany.
• USCG Sector NYcoreOthersUnited States Coast Guard sector New York. Coordinates with Hudson River Pilots on ice-breaking operations, navigation safety, and vessel traffic management.
• American Pilot AssociationminorOthersNational association representing pilots. Hudson River Pilots maintains membership in industry association.
• Tug/Barge CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with tug and barge companies for ice-breaking and winter navigation. Jointly developed navigation and vessel communication strategies for Upper Hudson River ice season with 8 designated meeting/passing zones.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco Bar Pilots: Licensed bar and harbor pilots for San Francisco Bay and its approaches. Highly comparable professional pilots association operating under state regulatory framework with compulsory pilotage rules.
• Crescent River Port Pilots Association: Provides licensed maritime pilotage on the lower Mississippi River between the Gulf of Mexico and Baton Rouge. Comparable US river pilotage cooperative with similar federal/state licensing model.
• Sabine Pilots Association: Licensed maritime pilotage for vessels transiting the Sabine River and Port Arthur, Texas waterways. Comparable US Gulf Coast pilotage association.
• Puget Sound Pilots: Licensed maritime pilotage association serving vessels navigating Puget Sound and surrounding waters in Washington State. Comparable regulated pilotage cooperative serving a defined regional waterway.
• Tampa Bay Pilots Association: Licensed maritime pilots serving Tampa Bay, Florida. Comparable Florida state-regulated pilotage cooperative providing compulsory pilotage for commercial vessels.
• Boston Pilots: Licensed maritime pilots providing pilotage services for vessels entering Boston Harbor. Comparable Northeast US state-regulated pilots association serving a defined regional waterway.
• Sandy Hook Pilots Association: Sandy Hook Pilots Association provides licensed maritime pilotage for vessels entering and exiting New York Harbor. Operates the same regulatory and business model as Hudson River Pilots and is explicitly listed by the firm as an industry peer association on its Industry Links page.
• Columbia River Pilots: Provides licensed maritime pilotage for vessels transiting the Columbia River bar and river system in Oregon/Washington. Closely comparable US river and inland waterway pilotage operation with similar regulatory and service model.

Emerging players

• American Pilots Association: National industry association representing US state-licensed maritime pilots. Not a commercial peer but the closest national trade body, with which Hudson River Pilots maintains membership and is listed as a partner on its Industry Links page.

Others

• New York Board of Commissioners of Pilots: State regulatory body that commissions and oversees licensed pilots in New York, including Hudson River Pilots. Not a direct commercial peer but the closest governing authority and named partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hudson-river-pilots-assoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hudson River Pilots