Diane C. Lore | lore@siadvance.com
Father of the Ferry
Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt is considered the father of of the Staten Island Ferry system as we know it. Although the first motorized ferry between Staten Island and Manhattan, the steam-powered Nautilus, was launched in 1817, it was Vanderbilt who established and expanded ferry service when he acquired the Nautilus in 1838. This political cartoon, from the collection of the Staten Island Historical Society, depicts Commodore Vanderbilt and his Staten Island Municipal Ferry.
New York City takes the helm
Ferry service between St. George and Whitehall Street in Manhattan was transferred to the city Department of Docks and Ferries on Oct. 25, 1905, becoming one of the city's official municipal services. Five new ferries -- one named for each of the five boroughs -- were commissioned. This photo shows the Staten Island ferry Richmond crossing the harbor. (Photo courtesy of SIFerry.com)
A view unmatched, for free
The five-mile, 25-minute ride on the Staten Island Ferry, between St. George and Manhattan, also provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride for free. This photo shows the ferry as it passes by the Statue of Liberty. (Staten Island Advance/Bill Lyons)
Coming and going
Two ferryboats pass each other coming and going in the Harbor. On a typical weekday, the Staten Island Ferry makes 109 trips across the Harbor, transporting approximately 70,000 passengers. About 37,180 trips are made annually, according to the website siferry.com. (Staten Island Advance/Rachel Shapiro)
A fare history
The 5-cent fare on the Staten Island Ferry was established in 1897. On Oct. 10, 1972, the fare was raised to 10 cents. In 1975, the fare was increased to 25 cents. On Aug. 1, 1990, the fare went up to 50 cents. Finally, on July 4, 1997, the fare was eliminated. The ferry has been free since. In this photo from 2003, a group of women head through the terminal turnstiles in St. George to catch the boat to Manhattan. (Staten Island Advance/Irving Silverstein)
Up to speed
The Staten Island Ferry boats travel at about 16 knots, or 18.5 mph, adjusting speed slightly only for extreme weather and water conditions. Shown here, the Staten Island ferry Verrazano, with the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in the background. (Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo)
A lot of horsepower
It takes between 3,200 to 9,000 of horsepower -- depending upon the boat's year/class -- to run the engines that power the Staten Island Ferry. In this 2008 photo, a ferry engineer checks the status in the engine room of the ferryboat the John J. Marchi. (Staten Island Advance/Bill Lyons)
By the clock
Except for delays caused by weather conditions or by ongoing maintenance work on the slips, arrival and departure times on the Staten Island Ferry are more than 90 percent on time, the city says. (Staten Island Advance/Bill Lyons)
Tragedy strikes
The side of the ferryboat Andrew J. Barberi was ripped to shreds when it slammed into a maintenance pier in St. George on Oct. 15, 2003. The worst crash so far this century left 11 dead and scores injured. (Associated Press)
A life-saver on city's darkest day
After the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, the Staten Island Ferry transported tens of thousands of people out of lower Manhattan to safety on Staten Island. The captains docked the ferries under zero visibility as the smoke and debris from the Twin Towers collapse filled the sky. In the days following, passengers were not allowed on the ferries. The fleet was used to transport emergency and military personnel, supplies and equipment to lower Manhattan. Since 9/11, the Staten Island Ferry no longer carries cars.
A ferry to honor a hero
City officials announced in January that the first of three new Staten Island Ferry boats will be named in honor of the late Army Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis of New Dorp, killed in Afghanistan in 2013 at the age of 24. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)
Mecca for movies
The Staten Island Ferry has always been a popular site for filmmakers. In this photo, actress Melanie Griffith is seen riding the ferry into Manhattan in the 1988 movie "Working Girl." (Staten Island Advance file photo/courtesy Fox)
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