Millions of people ride the Staten Island Ferry every year. The boats are bright orange, the ride is free, and the views of New York Harbor are some of the best in the city. But who actually owns it?
The short answer is the City of New York. A private company does not own it, and it is not part of the subway system. Here is the full story, updated for November 2026.
Who Owns the Staten Island Ferry Right Now?
The ferry is owned and run by the New York City Department of Transportation, known as NYC DOT. DOT’s own Ferries and Buses page says the agency owns and operates the ferry. That makes it a public service paid for by the city, with some help from federal and state grants.
The ferry is its own division inside DOT. DOT says it serves about 16 million riders a year and lists Captain John Garvey as its chief operations officer and deputy commissioner. A city job posting for that post says the team has over 600 employees, about 450 of them mariners.
At the top, the mayor leads the city government that runs DOT. As of 2026, that is Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The route is 5.2 miles long. It links St. George Terminal on Staten Island with Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan, not far from the World Trade Center. The trip takes about 25 minutes, and boats run all day and all night.
Ownership and Key Players Table
| Party | Role | Ownership | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of New York | Owner | 100% public ownership | The mayor leads the city government that runs DOT |
| NYC Department of Transportation | Operator | Runs the ferry every day | The ferry is one division inside DOT |
| Captain John Garvey | Chief operations officer | Management role | Listed on DOT’s about page; the ferry team has 600+ staff |
| Eastern Shipbuilding Group | Builder of the newest boats | None | Built the three Ollis-class ferries in Panama City, Florida |
| Federal and state grants | Funding partners | None | City Council notes $2.8 million for ferry operations in Fiscal 2025 |
| MTA | Separate transit agency | None | Runs the subway, buses and Staten Island Railway, not the ferry |
| NYC Ferry | Separate ferry network | None | Overseen by the city’s EDC and run by Hornblower; charges a fare |
A Short History: From Private Steamboats to Public Service
Before steam power, people crossed the harbor in small sailboats called periaugers. In 1817, the Richmond Turnpike Company started the first motorized service with a steamboat named Nautilus. Wikipedia’s history of the ferry notes that its captain was the brother-in-law of Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt bought the ferry in 1838. The Staten Island Railroad Company took it over in 1864, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad bought it in 1884.
In 1905, the city took control through its Department of Docks and Ferries. The city ordered five new boats, one named for each borough. The ferry has been public ever since.
Why Is the Staten Island Ferry Free?
The fare was a nickel for almost 80 years. It rose to 10 cents in 1972, 25 cents in 1975, and 50 cents in 1990.
Many Staten Islanders were angry that they paid a ferry fare and then paid again on the subway or bus. That anger helped fuel a 1993 vote, which was not binding, to leave New York City. Mayor Rudy Giuliani ended the fare on July 4, 1997, as part of a one-city, one-fare plan.
The Fleet the City Owns
The newest boats are the three Ollis-class ferries: the SSG Michael H. Ollis, the Sandy Ground, and the Dorothy Day. Each one carries up to 4,500 passengers. The mayor’s office called the first boat an $85 million vessel and the city’s first new Staten Island Ferry in 17 years.
The Dorothy Day was the third and final boat, commissioned in November 2022. Federal agencies helped pay for the work. A U.S. Department of Transportation project record also lists three new ferry boats and two rebuilt terminals.
Older boats still sail too. The Molinari class has three sister ships, each built for 4,427 passengers. The Samuel I. Newhouse, which entered service in 1982, is the only boat in the Barberi class.
Fleet counts differ by source. The city’s own management report lists 11 boats in the ferry program, while recent reports mention nine in regular service.
Owning the ferry also means carrying the responsibility. In October 2003, the Andrew J. Barberi crashed and at least 10 people died. The city, as owner and operator, answered for it.
Costs, Fuel and New Perks
DOT’s whole budget is about $1.5 billion in Fiscal 2026, and the ferry is one part of it. Grants add support. The City Council noted $2.8 million in federal and state grant money for ferry operations in Fiscal 2025.
The ferry also went greener. More than 1.1 million gallons of renewable diesel have been used across the fleet, made mostly from waste cooking oil and tallow.
In December 2024, the city announced that food stands would return to the boats. Dunkin’ was expected to run stands on two of the newest boats.
Beer, hard seltzers and canned cocktails came back on March 27, 2026. Sales had stopped in 2019 after a vendor contract ended.
Is the Staten Island Ferry Owned by the MTA?
No. The MTA runs the subway, the buses, and the Staten Island Railway. It took over that railway in January 1971, but the ferry has always been a city service.
The two systems meet at St. George Terminal. Riders can step off the boat and onto the railway or a bus.
How Is NYC Ferry Different?
NYC Ferry is a separate network. The city’s Economic Development Corporation owns and oversees it, and Hornblower runs it. Riders pay a fare, unlike on the Staten Island Ferry.
Split arrangements like this are common in New York. Yankee Stadium follows a similar pattern, since the team owns the building but leases the land from a public entity. Even the Mets owner, Steve Cohen, has asked the city to add NYC Ferry stops near Citi Field.
The Staten Island Ferry also sails past the Statue of Liberty, which is federal property. Visitors who want to land on Liberty Island need a different, paid boat run by a private company.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns the Staten Island Ferry?
The City of New York owns it and runs it through NYC DOT.
Q2. Is the Staten Island Ferry owned by the MTA?
No, the MTA runs the subway, buses and Staten Island Railway, not the ferry.
Q3. Is the Staten Island Ferry free?
Yes, the fare has been free since July 4, 1997.
Q4. When did the city take over the ferry?
New York City took control in 1905.
Q5. How many people ride it?
About 16 million riders a year, and roughly 45,000 on an average weekday.
Q6. Who built the newest ferries?
Eastern Shipbuilding Group built the three Ollis-class boats in Florida.
Q7. Can you buy alcohol on board?
Yes, beer, hard seltzers and canned cocktails returned on March 27, 2026.
Q8. Is NYC Ferry the same as the Staten Island Ferry?
No, NYC Ferry is a separate network run by Hornblower, and it charges a fare.
Official Website: nyc.gov/dot
The Staten Island Ferry is owned by the City of New York and run by NYC DOT. It has been public since 1905, free since 1997, and it now carries about 16 million riders a year. The MTA does not run it, and NYC Ferry is a separate system.
Its newest boats cost about $85 million each, its fuel is greener, and its snack stands and bar are back. Few things in New York are both this useful and this free.