NYC Ferry Service Suspended Due to Icy Rivers

Closure may last for several days as crews monitor waterway conditions

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:55pm

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All New York City Ferry service was suspended as of 2 p.m. Tuesday due to ice in the East and Hudson rivers and across New York Harbor. Ferry officials warn the closure may last for several days as crews continue to monitor evolving waterway conditions and prepare the fleet to resume service once conditions improve.

Why it matters

The NYC Ferry system is a crucial transportation option for many commuters and residents, providing connections between Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. A prolonged suspension of service could significantly disrupt travel plans and create challenges for those who rely on the ferries to get to work, school, or other destinations.

The details

Ferry officials said operating in heavy ice conditions requires slow speeds and little to no notice regarding landing service suspensions. Riders should check ferry.nyc and the NYC Ferry app for the latest updates. New York Waterway is also operating with delays and modified schedules, and service from Edgewater, New Jersey, has been suspended.

  • All NYC Ferry service was suspended as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
  • The closure may last for several days as crews monitor evolving waterway conditions.

The players

NYC Ferry

The NYC Ferry system, which provides transportation services across the city's waterways.

New York Waterway

A ferry service operating in the New York Harbor region, which is also experiencing delays and modified schedules due to the icy conditions.

Philip Orton

A research associate professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology who explains the conditions required for ice to form on the brackish Hudson River.

Luis Melendez

The Riverkeeper Patrol Captain who has navigated New York Harbor for 16 years and describes the nerve-wracking experience of navigating through ice floes.

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What they’re saying

“Operating in heavy ice conditions requires slow speeds and little to no notice regarding landing service suspensions. NYC Ferry crew will continue to monitor evolving waterway conditions and prepare the fleet to ensure service can resume once conditions improve.”

— NYC Ferry (X)

“You're moving people from place to place, and you're navigating through these kind of like ice patch and ice floes.”

— Luis Melendez, Riverkeeper Patrol Captain (CBS News)

“You also need the currents to be weak for a period of time, so the tides can't be large.”

— Philip Orton, Research Associate Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology (CBS News)

What’s next

Ferry officials will continue to monitor waterway conditions and prepare the fleet to resume service once the ice clears.

The takeaway

The suspension of NYC Ferry service highlights the challenges that extreme winter weather can pose for transportation systems, especially those that rely on navigating waterways. The situation underscores the importance of having robust contingency plans and the ability to quickly adapt to changing environmental conditions in order to minimize disruptions for commuters and residents.