What Block Island Ferry does

Block Island Ferry, operated by Interstate Navigation Company, is a privately held Rhode Island corporation that has provided marine transportation between the mainland and Block Island since 1933. The company runs a fleet of six USCG Subchapter K-certified vessels from terminals at Point Judith (Narragansett) and Newport on the mainland, and Old Harbor on Block Island, offering year-round traditional passenger/vehicle service and seasonal high-speed catamaran service. Its core products are Traditional Ferry Service (55-minute crossing, up to 1,285-passenger vessels capable of carrying vehicles, bicycles, and freight) and High-Speed Ferry Service (30-minute crossings from Point Judith; one-hour from Newport), supplemented by Vehicle Reservations, Group Sales and Packages for groups of 25+, Freight Services for personal and commercial goods, onboard food and beverage concessions, and a branded merchandise and gift card shop.

The business operates a multi-channel direct-to-consumer and inside-sales model. Individual travelers purchase tickets through online booking, phone reservations, or walk-up terminal ticket offices, while vehicle reservations require advance phone booking. A dedicated group sales office handles pre-formed groups with at least two weeks of advance notice. Revenue is generated entirely through transaction-based pricing across passenger tickets, vehicle transport (with monthly fuel surcharges), bicycles and sports equipment, freight (per pallet and per board foot), group packages, onboard concessions, and merchandise sales. The customer base spans individual leisure travelers and families from Rhode Island and broader New England, Block Island residents and commuters using commuter ticket books, organized groups of 25+, and freight shippers ranging from individuals shipping personal pallets to commercial customers moving construction materials. The company has been under continuous ownership of the Wronowski family since at least 1984, with no disclosed institutional investment or external funding.

Name

Block Island Ferry

Legal name

Interstate Navigation Company

Website

https://blockislandferry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Block Island Ferry is a privately held Rhode Island marine transportation company operating year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service and seasonal high-speed service between the mainland (Point Judith and Newport) and Block Island since 1933.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Ferry Transportation

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Water Transportation (483)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Island & Remote Community Ferry Services (THAIAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Island & Archipelago Ferry Services (THAEAGAB), Passenger Catamaran Operators (TLAFALAE), Ferry Terminal & Passenger Pier Operations (Ferry-Specific) (THAIAJAJ)

Keywords

• Passenger ferry service
• Vehicle ferry transport
• Freight shipping services
• Group tour packages
• Marine transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Narragansett

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ferry Tickets: Revenue from one-way and round-trip passenger tickets on traditional and high-speed ferries. Pricing varies by age category (adult, senior, child) and fare type (one way, same-day round trip, different-day round trip).
2. Vehicle Transportation: Revenue from transporting vehicles including standard size, full size, and oversized vehicles. Pricing based on vehicle type and one-way or round-trip fares. Requires advance reservation.
3. Bicycle and Sports Equipment: Revenue from transporting bicycles (standard, electric, tandem), surfboards, mopeds, and motorcycles. Pricing varies by equipment type.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel, hats, bags, books, mugs, ornaments, and miscellaneous items through the online shop and terminal locations.
5. Freight Shipping: Revenue from shipping personal freight, commercial goods, and construction materials to Block Island via traditional ferry. Charges apply per pallet, commodity type, or board footage.
6. Group Sales and Packages: Revenue from group bookings of 25+ passengers including discounted ferry tickets and island package deals combining ferry transportation with accommodations and tours.
7. Food and Beverage Concessions: Onboard concession stands with full liquor bar offering hot dogs, bagels, chips, cookies, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and more on all traditional and high-speed ferries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Block Island Ferry, operated by Interstate Navigation Company since 1933, provides year-round passenger and vehicle ferry transportation between Point Judith (Narragansett, RI), Newport (RI), and Old Harbor on Block Island. The company operates a fleet of six vessels — traditional car ferries and high-speed aluminum catamarans — and complements ferry service with vehicle reservations, freight shipping, group sales packages, gift cards, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Block Island Ferry operates as a single unified ferry service offering two primary product lines: Traditional Ferry Service (year-round, 55-minute crossings from Point Judith) and High-Speed Ferry Service (seasonal, 30-minute crossings from Point Judith and Newport). Supporting services include Vehicle Reservations (advance booking for automobiles, motorcycles, and mopeds), Freight Services (personal and commercial shipping to Block Island), Group Sales & Packages (discounted tickets and island packages for groups of 25+), Gift Cards, and a Merchandise Shop featuring branded apparel, accessories, drinkware, and collectibles. The ferry service connects mainland Rhode Island (Point Judith and Newport) to Block Island, serving both passengers and vehicles with a fleet of six vessels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Ferry Service Year-round passenger and vehicle ferry transportation between Point Judith (Narragansett, RI) and Old Harbor on Block Island, with approximately 55-minute crossing times. Accommodates passengers, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, surfboards, and freight. Operated by Interstate Navigation Company since 1933.
• High-Speed Ferry Service Seasonal high-speed ferry service to Block Island using aluminum catamaran vessels — MV Athena from Point Judith (30-minute crossing) and MV Islander from Newport (1-hour crossing) — for passengers and bicycles only.
• Vehicle Reservations

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Tiger FishminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Block Island restaurant and retailer advertising on the Block Island Ferry website and promotional materials.
• Wetherbee'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Block Island business advertising on the Block Island Ferry website.
• Yellow KittensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Block Island business advertising on the Block Island Ferry website.
• Belmont MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrocery delivery partner accepting personal grocery deliveries to Block Island via the ferry freight service.
• Stop & Shop/PeapodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrocery delivery partner accepting personal grocery deliveries to Block Island via the ferry freight service.
• Lambs Package ServiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPackage delivery service on Block Island handling UPS and FedEx packages once they arrive on the island.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SeaStreak: SeaStreak operates high-speed passenger catamaran ferry service from New Jersey and Manhattan to various Atlantic coast destinations including Sandy Hook and Monmouth County beaches. Comparable in deploying high-speed catamarans for time-sensitive leisure/commuter travel in the Northeast corridor, though serving different endpoints.
• Cape May-Lewes Ferry: Cape May-Lewes Ferry operates vehicle/passenger ferries across the Delaware Bay between New Jersey and Delaware, owned by the Delaware River and Bay Authority. Comparable as a regional passenger/vehicle ferry operator serving leisure travelers in the Mid-Atlantic with multi-vessel operations.
• Washington State Ferries: Washington State Ferries operates the largest ferry system in the United States, serving the San Juan Islands, Bainbridge Island, and other Puget Sound destinations with a mixed traditional/high-speed fleet. Relevant as a large-scale, multi-route island ferry operator with similar year-round commuter + leisure service model.
• NYC Ferry (Hornblower): NYC Ferry operates passenger ferry routes across New York Harbor operated by Hornblower, providing commuter-oriented water transportation in an urban environment. Comparable as a scheduled passenger ferry operator in the Northeast but focused on commuter rather than island leisure service.
• Boston Harbor Cruises: Boston Harbor Cruises operates passenger ferries, sightseeing cruises, and water transportation services in Boston Harbor, including commuter routes to outer harbor islands. Comparable as a New England-based multi-vessel passenger ferry and tour boat operator with mixed commuter/leisure offering.

Others

• Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding built the MV Athena high-speed catamaran for Block Island Ferry in 2006 and is a leading builder of commercial passenger ferries and pilot boats in the United States. Relevant ecosystem participant as a key supplier to the Northeast ferry industry, though not a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority: The Steamship Authority operates year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service between Cape Cod (Woods Hole) and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Most analogous New England island ferry operator in scale, regulatory environment, and seasonal tourism/leisure business model.
• Hy-Line Cruises: Hy-Line Cruises provides passenger and high-speed ferry service from Hyannis to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, and conducts island harbor tours. Direct peer in the Cape & Islands passenger ferry market with similar product mix (traditional + high-speed catamarans) and leisure tourism customer base.
• Casco Bay Lines: Casco Bay Lines operates year-round passenger ferry service between Portland, Maine and the Casco Bay islands. Comparable in serving island communities with mixed commuter/leisure demand using traditional ferries, though at smaller scale and without high-speed catamaran product.
• Viking Fleet: Viking Fleet operates seasonal ferry service from Montauk, NY to Block Island, making it the only direct competitor on the Block Island route. Same destination, similar passenger ferry product, overlapping tourist customer base in the New York/Long Island market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BlockIsleFerry
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheBlockIslandFerry
• Instagraminstagram.com/blockislandferry
• TikToktiktok.com/@theblockislandferry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/interstate-navigation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Block Island Ferry