Working With Ferries

Learn routes, schedules and reservation procedures so you can transport goods on ferries

Ferry operators provide a valuable service to businesses by quickly and easily delivering people and goods across waterways. Ferry boats are used on both coasts of the United States, but ferry service providers in Washington State, Massachusetts and New York are some of the country's busiest.

Most passenger ferries transport cargo, and many also transport cars, vans and trucks. So whether you are a house painter who needs to get a commercial van onto a ferry boat or a food distributor with a tractor trailer destined for a supermarket on an island, ferry services can be key to your business. When you are working with ferries, you will need to know:

1. Ferry routes;

2. Ferry schedules;

3. And ferry reservation procedures.

 

Learn ferry routes

Knowing where ferries go is the first step in working with ferries. The most extensive ferry system in the country is in Washington state, but river, bay and ocean ferries criss-cross water ways on both coasts. You'll want to check the routes near you to see if a ferry boat is a good alternative to a long drive or air transport.
Try: The Ferry Traveller bills itself as a one-stop reference for route information on all ferries in the northwestern United States, including Washington state and Alaska. There are also links to East Coast ferry routes. The North Carolina Department of Transportation keeps information on the state's seven ferry routes on its website. Just click on the route you are interested in to get more information.

Find ferry schedules

Once you know that using a ferry is better than driving or flying to your destination, you'll want to look up the ferry schedule. Most ferry schedules are seasonal and have, for example, more trips in the summer and fewer in the winter.
Try: For ferry schedules in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out the website for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. If you are looking to get onto a ferry in Washington state, schedule information for all the state's ferries is available on the site for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Make a ferry reservation

Reservations are highly recommended if you plan to put a car, van or truck onto a ferry. In some cases, they are required. Before booking your passage, you should know the ferry operator's policies regarding payment, cancellations and prohibited cargo.
Try: Reservation procedures for the Block Island Ferry in Rhode Island are clearly spelled out. They include the fact that all vehicles must be booked and paid for in advance. Additionally, all cars and trucks must arrive at the ferry dock one hour before the ferry departure time. The Steamship Authority in Massachusetts requires the year, make, model, size and license plate of a vehicle when making a reservation.

 

• Most ferry transport companies will cancel service if the weather is stormy or the seas are extremely rough. If you think weather may be an issue on a day you have a trip planned, call the ferry system to see if the boats are running on schedule.
• Space is limited for cars and trucks on ferries and most fill up fast, especially in the summer. So make your reservation as early as possible.

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