Due to the continuous cold weather in recent days, large areas of the Hudson River, East River, and New York Harbor have frozen over. The NYC Ferry has suspended all services since Tuesday afternoon, with officials warning that the suspension may last for several days, causing significant disruptions to cross-river commuting and city traffic.
The operating unit of the NYC Ferry stated that all routes have been suspended due to “the continuous presence of large ice layers and floating ice on the river surface.” The statement pointed out that navigating in icy conditions requires significantly reduced speeds, and docking operations may be interrupted at any time. To ensure the safety of passengers and crew, services have been temporarily suspended, and will only resume once the waterway conditions improve.
Weather authorities have indicated that temperatures in the New York area are expected to remain below freezing until February, and the ice on the river surface may not completely disappear in the short term. This uncertainty surrounds when the ferry services will resume. In an attempt to maintain limited passage, authorities deployed tugboats to break ice in front of the ferries, but ultimately had to abandon the efforts as the floating ice thickened.
Not only have city-operated ferries been affected, but privately operated interstate ferry operator “NY Waterway” has also experienced delays and route adjustments, with services to and from New Jersey (Edgewater) also being suspended. Officials urge the public to use alternative transportation such as subways and buses, and to stay informed about the latest announcements. [Link: https://www.ferry.nyc/service-alerts/]
With the extreme cold spell, the river freezing also poses a challenge to public safety. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) confirmed that on Monday, an ice-breaking vessel was deployed to assist a New York City Police Department Harbor Unit boat trapped by floating ice, demonstrating that the extent of ice formation in the water is at near-record levels in recent years. The Coast Guard emphasized that ice-breaking operations are crucial not only for rescue and law enforcement actions but also for maintaining the energy transport and port operations in the region.
The severe cold weather this time originates from a polar vortex moving southward, as last weekend’s snowstorm brought 11 to 14 inches of snow to the five boroughs of New York, causing the city to be paralyzed momentarily and resulting in at least 10 fatalities.
The city government reminds that during the cold spell, conditions in rivers and transportation can change rapidly, and it is essential for the public to check real-time information before traveling and to avoid approaching icy water areas for safety.