NYC Ferry Service Suspension Update
NextDear Rider,
NYC Ferry paused operations on Tuesday as a result of extreme ice conditions in New York Harbor. As always, safety is our top priority. We also know riders need a reliable schedule and predictable service. With the constantly changing ice conditions, we are currently unable to operate NYC Ferry reliably for our riders. Still, NYC Ferry continues to work behind the scenes so we are ready to resume service once ice conditions improve. To learn more about the impact of ice and how NYC Ferry is preparing, please see below.
When can we expect service to resume?
In order to reopen safely, NYC Ferry is monitoring conditions until the ice floes recede and we have consistent, safe access to landings and vessels. Given the below-freezing temperature forecasts for the remainder of the week, it could be several more days before service can fully resume. Once temperatures increase and ice flushes out of the harbor, we will confirm that river conditions allow for a safe and orderly re-opening of the system.
Why is ice impacting NYC Ferry?
As ice that forms north in the Hudson River breaks off, it flows down into the rest of the New York harbor, packing the west side shoreline of Manhattan with ice. As the tide of the East River changes direction four times per day, that ice comes around the Battery on the southern tip of Manhattan and then moves up and down the East River. With changing wind and temperatures, this means ice moves all around the East River in unpredictable ways, blocking landings and our own homeport in Brooklyn Navy Yard.
NYC Ferry’s aluminum hull fleet is lightweight and fast, —usually a good thing!— but also makes them susceptible to ice. Operating in such heavy and changing ice conditions requires us to go slow and often we don’t know how challenging ice conditions will be until we arrive at a landing. This can lead to last-minute cancellations for riders who are waiting on landings.
What are we doing while service is closed?
Our priority at the moment is protecting and maintaining the fleet so that when ice conditions change, we are ready to re-open. Every day, an ice breaker boat is coming to Wallabout Bay, the waters around the Brooklyn Navy Yard where our fleet is docked, to break up ice, which allows the boats to move in and out of maintenance slips. Additionally, we are temporarily winterizing parts of the fleet where necessary, and continue to do regular daily work in accordance with our vessel maintenance program so that we are able to run reliably when service resumes,
Our priority is always to provide safe, reliable ferry service. Our team is doing the necessary work behind the scenes to make sure we’re ready to start when conditions improve. We will continue to keep riders informed. In the meantime, we hope you’re staying warm.
See you soon,
NYC Ferry
