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Was that a NYC ferry on the water yesterday? You may have seen a boat or two out on the Hudson, but don't get too excited just yet. Service across all ferry routes is still suspended, extending a disruption that’s now lasted more than a week.
The pause began last week after icy conditions spread across New York Harbor, the East River and the Hudson. According to multiple service alerts from NYC Ferry, “significant, continuing ice build-up” has made it unsafe to operate vessels. Heavy ice forces ferries to slow down and creates unpredictable conditions at landings, which can put passengers, crews and boats at risk.
Crews have been out testing docks and routes, however, checking ice conditions landing by landing. Those test runs, combined with weather forecasting and constant monitoring of ice movement, are helping the agency figure out when service can safely return.
Slightly warmer temperatures earlier this week helped break up parts of the ice. But large ice floes are still drifting through the harbor and colder weather paired with strong winds is expected to keep conditions difficult. For that reason, NYC Ferry confirmed on Wednesday that service will remain suspended through the weekend. Safety, officials emphasized, is the priority.
An email from NYC Ferry indicated there is some cautious optimism ahead. Forecasts show temperatures climbing above freezing by the middle of next week. If that trend holds and ice continues to clear, officials expect to begin a gradual return to service sometime next week. That restart will likely roll out slowly, starting with limited or modified routes rather than a full system-wide relaunch.
For now, riders are encouraged to check ferry.nyc or the NYC Ferry app for updates. It’s an inconvenience for regular commuters and weekend wanderers alike, especially for neighborhoods that rely on the ferry as a key transit option. But with ice still moving through the waterways, the wait continues.