The NYC Ferry just suspended service as rivers turn into ice

It’s official: winter has officially reached “nature doing too much” territory—and now the ferries are tapping out.

NYC Ferry has suspended service across all routes as thick ice continues to snarl the East River, Hudson River and New York Harbor, turning one of the city’s most scenic commutes into a floating game of icebreaker. The shutdown began yesterday, Tuesday, January 27, with ferry operators warning riders that the pause could last several days.

In a service alert posted Tuesday afternoon, NYC Ferry cited “significant, continuing ice build-up” across local waterways, noting that operating in heavy ice requires slow speeds and creates unpredictable landing conditions.

By early afternoon, all routes were fully suspended and ferry crews shifted into monitoring mode: tracking conditions and preparing vessels to resume service once the ice loosens its grip. Tugboats were deployed ahead of some ferries earlier in the day in an effort to break up ice floes but even that workaround proved no match for the deep freeze.

The situation didn’t improve overnight. As of Wednesday, January 28, NYC Ferry confirmed that operations remain shut down across all routes due to ongoing ice and again cautioned riders that the closure may last several more days. Updates are posted via the NYC Ferry app and ferry.nyc and commuters are strongly advised to check them before making any waterfront travel plans.

The icy chaos comes after Winter Storm Fern dumped 11 to 14 inches of snow across the five boroughs over the weekend, followed by dangerously cold temperatures that have kept waterways well below freezing. Forecasters say the cold snap will likely linger into early February, meaning the ice isn’t exactly on a melting schedule.

Other ferry operators are feeling the freeze, too. New York Waterway has been operating with delays and modified schedules, with some routes, including service to Edgewater, New Jersey, temporarily suspended. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Hudson, NJ Transit says it plans to return to full weekday service, offering some relief for commuters who suddenly lost their aquatic shortcut.

For now, ferry riders will have to swap skyline views for subways, buses or very bundled-up walks. NYC Ferry says safety for its passengers, crews and vessels is the top priority, and service will resume as soon as conditions allow.

Until then, consider this winter’s reminder that even New York’s toughest transit systems can’t out-muscle a frozen harbor.