A couple of days ago we came out of the Hudson and through NY harbor narrows south to Sandy Hook. Tacking across the harbor in thick fog part of the time and plenty of traffic. AIS, even my poorly working one (no antenna, just a wire laying in the bilge - long story..), helped the "pilot workload" a great deal.

Curious thing is I have now seen a number of high speed cat ferries without working AIS. Several in the Boston area and also in NYC. Of all ships, these for sure should have them.