Additional Information

LOST & FOUND

The Ferry's Lost and Found Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. It is located in the St. George Terminal waiting room, next to the NYPD Police Room. For additional information, or Lost and Found assistance, please call 311. Outside of New York City please dial 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675). Passenger Service Staff will search for the lost object and call the passenger back directly with the results of the search.

FREE WIFI

Free WiFi services are available in each terminal and also on all the ferries.

PETS

Pets, other than service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are not allowed in the facilities and/or onboard the ferry boats, unless they are caged and/or muzzled.

SECURITY

All passengers are subject to random screening by NYPD and K9 personnel. Passengers refusing to random screenings will not be allowed to board the vessel and will be asked to leave the terminal. Staten Island Ferry terminals are under 24/7 CCTV surveillance. Please note: NYPD is present on all Staten Island Ferry vessels and stationed in both terminals.

ACCESSIBILITY

Both terminals are equipped with escalators and elevators and operate within ADA guidelines. Authorization to board on the lower level will only be issued with proper supporting documentation. For further information, please call 212-839-3061, Monday through Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, all other times please dial 311. You may also email your request and documentation to ferryaccessrequest@dot.nyc.gov. Please allow 3 to 5 business days for processing.

Some Interesting Facts

The 5 cents fare was established in 1897. On October 10, 1972, the fare was raised to 10 cents. In 1975 the fare was increased to 25 cents. On August 1, 1990, the fare went up to 50 cents. Finally, on July 4, 1997 the fare for foot passengers on the ferry was eliminated.

In 1926 the city’s original white color scheme was eliminated in favor of a reddish maroon. This was changed to municipal orange later so that they could be seen in heavy fog and snow.

In 1817 the cost to cross the harbor was 25 cents and half price for children. This was the cost to ride the Nautilus, the first steam ferry to make the famous trip. The Nautilus was commanded by Captain John De Forest

Three of the ferries that were built to make the trip across the harbor were bought by the U.S. Navy to fight in the civil war. The Southfield I, Westfield I, and the Clifton I. None of these ferries ever returned to New York.

On May 16, 1981, the American Legion was rammed in the fog by a Norwegian freighter.

Steam was used on the Staten Island ferries up until the 1980’s.

The Pvt. Joseph Merrill and Cornelius G. Kolff ferries were converted to prison dormitories for Riker’s Island.

In 1960, a bomb was set off on the Knickerbocker. There were no injuries.

On February 8, 1958, The Dongan Hills was hit by the Norwegian tanker Tynefield. 15 passengers were injured.

In the 1700s, ferry service was provided by private individuals with small twin mast sailboats called per augers.

In 1978, the American Legion crashed into the concrete seawall near the Statue of Liberty ferry port during a dense fog. 173 were injured.