Welcome to
the Staten Island Ferry

About

The Staten Island Ferry, one of the last operating ferry systems in New York, transported people between Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs long before bridges were introduced. The northern shores of Staten Island were littered with piers, competing ferry companies vied for a place in the busy waters. Today, the Staten Island Ferry provides almost 22 million people with ferry service annually: taking almost 70,000 passengers daily between St George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in Manhattan. The ferry is the only non-vehicular mode of transport between Staten Island and Manhattan. The New York City Department of Transportation is responsible for the maintenance of the ten-vessel fleet along with numerous facilities including the St George and Whitehall terminals in Staten Island and Manhattan respectively.

Announcements

Additional Information

LOST & FOUND

The Ferry's Lost and Found Office is open Monday through...

FREE WIFI

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

PETS

Pets, other than service animals as defined by the Americans with...

SECURITY

All passengers are subject to random screening by NYPD and K9...

ACCESSIBILITY

Both terminals are equipped with escalators and elevators...

Gallery

Ferry Information

history

In The Beginning

In the 18th century, ferry service between Staten Island and the city of New York was conducted exclusively by private Read More

interesting facts

Interesting Facts

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

Passenger Safety

Passenger Rules of Conduct

The following New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Staten Island Ferry Passenger conduct shall be adhered to by all passengers to ensure the safety Read More

Bicyclist Rules of Conduct

Bicyclists are subject to all Passenger Rules of Conduct.
Bicyclists must board on the lower level at both the St. George and Whitehall Ferry Terminals. Read More

Safety Management System

On October 13, 2005, the American Bureau of Shipping presented the Department of Transportation with a “Voluntary Document of Compliance Certificate” for the DOT Staten Island Ferry Division Read More

NPDES Discharge Elimination

The Staten Island Ferry strives to ensure compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements as part of the Clean Water Act. Read More

FAQ’s & Tips

How much does it cost to ride the ferry?

The Staten Island Ferry is a free service provided by the City of New York. Be aware of scammers trying to sell tickets. You do not need a ticket to ride the Staten Island Ferry.

How often does the Ferry operate?

The Ferry runs 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. More frequent service, (every 15 or 20 minutes,) is provided on the weekdays during the rush hours of 6:00AM- 9:30AM and 3:30PM-8:00PM, with 30-minute service to follow. On weekends, service is provided every 30 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. Check the Schedules for more information.

Where does the Ferry travel to?

The Staten Island Ferry travels between the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island and the Whitehall Ferry Terminal (also known as South Ferry) in Manhattan.

Where are the terminals located and how do I get there by public transportation?

St. George Ferry Terminal is located at 1 Bay Street and is accessible by MTA Busses and the Staten Island Railway (SIR). The Whitehall Ferry Terminal is located at 4 South Street, and is accessible by MTA busses and the Subway. See Getting There for more information.

How can I purchase a Metro-card?

In St. George, you can purchase a Metro-card from the vending machines on the lower level at the SIR station. In Whitehall, you can purchase a Metro-card from the vending machines in the lower lobby entranceway (right of escalators).

During rush hour trips the boats are packed with commuters going to or returning home from work. This is not the best time to take a leisurely ride on the ferry. These trips are clearly marked on the schedule with yellow highlighting. Bringing large tourist groups on board during these trips will make it difficult for visitors to enjoy our great city and enjoy the ride. Please plan accordingly.

At the Kiss and Ride drop off for the Staten Island Ferry please pull over to the right when dropping off or picking up passengers. Do not block the lane for other vehicles. Also be aware of all posted speed limits and stop signs. Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks.

Do not stand at the top of the stairways while the ferry is docking. The sea is unforgiving, and a gust of wind can easily push the ferry into the racks. Be proactive about your safety.

When traveling with small children it is advisable to point out the ferry workers to them and tell them to see one of these people if they get separated from you. Also plan to meet at a terminal if you get separated. There are police rooms at each terminal, and this would be a great place to tell your children to wait for you if they do get separated.

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.