N.Y. NAV Law § 88-A

§ 88-a. Unlicensed piloting. A person other than a lawfully\nauthorized Sandy Hook pilot or a person heretofore licensed as a Hell\nGate pilot who pilots or offers to pilot or tows or offers to tow any\nboat or vessel (except barges, vessels under fifty-five tons burden, and\ncanal boats actually used in navigating the canals) through that part of\nthe East river, commonly called Hell Gate, is guilty of a misdemeanor.\nBut no pilotage shall be charged to any vessel under a coasting license,\non entering or departing from the port of New York by way of the East\nriver called Hell Gate unless such vessel actually employs a pilot, and\nthe making of such charge or demand without such employment shall be\ndeemed a misdemeanor.\n This section does not apply to vessels owned or belonging to citizens\nof the United States, and licensed and engaged in the coasting trade.\n