Fire Island Ferries
Fire Island Ferries is a privately held, Bay Shore-based passenger and freight ferry operator serving eight car-free Fire Island communities from Long Island since 1948, with mobile ticketing, water taxi, charter, and freight service lines for residents, day-trippers, and property owners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersBay Shore, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fire Island Ferries does
Fire Island Ferries is a privately held passenger and freight ferry operator founded in 1948 and headquartered in Bay Shore, New York. The company provides the primary maritime transportation link between the Long Island mainland and eight Fire Island barrier island communities — Kismet, Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Atlantique, Dunewood, Ocean Beach, Seaview, and Ocean Bay Park — across three Bay Shore terminals (Main, West, and Saltaire) plus Bay Shore Marina. Because Fire Island is car-free with no road or bridge access, the ferry is essentially a public utility for residents, property owners, and seasonal visitors, operating on an April-through-October full-service schedule with reduced winter service.
The company's product portfolio spans four service lines: core passenger ferry transportation (one-way and round-trip tickets with senior discounts), beach-to-beach water taxi service between communities (operated through subsidiary Fire Island Water Taxi), private charter service for events (weddings, school trips, corporate outings, memorial ceremonies), and a dedicated freight service (Fire Island Freight) for bikes, furniture, bulk groceries, building supplies, and oversize cargo. The consumer-facing layer is unified through the FI mTickets mobile app on iOS and Android, which handles ticket purchase, activation, and water taxi booking; online systems also support freight tracking and season parking reservations. Physical terminal infrastructure includes ticket windows, parking lots, and a marina, with payment accepted in cash, credit, and Apple Pay.
The business model is direct-to-consumer transactional revenue across all service lines — passengers purchase unit-priced tickets and freight customers pay per shipment, with no reservations required for standard ferry tickets. Distribution runs through terminal ticket windows, the mTickets app, the company's website, and an ecosystem of partner channels including the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) via Bay Shore station, David Bros. Taxis, and Uber/Lyft. A complementary cross-referral partnership with Sayville Ferry extends coverage reach to eastern Fire Island communities not served directly. Pricing is pay-as-you-go with tiered adult, child, and senior rates; mobile tickets remain valid 180 days from purchase, indicating an emphasis on flexibility and impulse-driven day-trip demand.
Fire Island Ferries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fire Island Ferries
- Legal name
- Fire Island Ferries, Inc.
- Website
- https://fireislandferries.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Fire Island Ferries is a privately held, Bay Shore-based passenger and freight ferry operator serving eight car-free Fire Island communities from Long Island since 1948, with mobile ticketing, water taxi, charter, and freight service lines for residents, day-trippers, and property owners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fire Island Ferries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Passenger Ferry Services
- NAICS
- Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Water Transportation (483)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Passenger Ferry Operators (Interisland/Intercity) (TLAFALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Island & Archipelago Ferry Services (THAEAGAB), Ferry Terminal & Passenger Pier Operations (Ferry-Specific) (THAIAJAJ), Shore Excursion & Port Services Operators (THAKAEAE)
Keywords
Where Fire Island Ferries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bay Shore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Fire Island Ferries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Passenger Ferry Tickets: Revenue from ferry tickets for passengers traveling to Fire Island communities. One-way and round-trip fares available. Senior discounts offered at ticket windows.
- Water Taxi Services: Beach-to-beach water taxi service connecting communities on Fire Island
- Freight Services: Freight boat service for bikes, furniture, bulk groceries, building supplies, and oversize cargo to Fire Island
- Private Charters: Private ferry charter services for events including school field trips, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and memorial ceremonies
- Parking Services: Daily, overnight, and long-term parking at Bay Shore terminal lots, plus Bay Shore Marina overflow parking
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard passenger fares |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Child fares |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Strollers and wagons |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Fire Island Ferries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fire Island Ferries, Inc. is a privately held ferry operator headquartered in Bay Shore, New York, that runs scheduled passenger ferry service from three Bay Shore terminals to eight western Fire Island communities (Ocean Beach, Seaview, Ocean Bay Park, Kismet, Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Atlantique, Dunewood). Complementing the core passenger route, the company sells beach-to-beach water taxi trips between communities, freight shipping for bikes, furniture, bulk groceries, building supplies, and oversize cargo, private ferry charters for events, and parking at Bay Shore terminal lots. Operations run year-round with peak service from April through October and are accessed through terminal ticket windows or the mTickets mobile app with no advance reservation required.
Product overview
Fire Island Ferries operates as a single unified service offering passenger ferry transportation from Bay Shore to Fire Island communities, complemented by an mTickets mobile app for digital ticketing. The portfolio includes four integrated service lines: the core passenger ferry, a water taxi service for inter-community beach-to-beach transportation, private charter services for events and special occasions, and freight/shipping services for cargo delivery. The mTickets app serves as the primary digital channel for both standard ferry ticket purchases and water taxi reservations, unifying the consumer-facing experience across all service offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FI mTickets: Mobile application for purchasing and activating ferry and water taxi tickets
- Fire Island Freight
- Fire Island Water Taxi
Products and services
- Fire Island Ferries Passenger Ferry Service Year-round scheduled passenger ferry transportation operating from the Main Terminal (99 Maple Ave), West Terminal (104 Maple Ave), and Saltaire Terminal (123 Maple Ave) in Bay Shore, NY to eight Fire Island communities: Ocean Beach, Seaview, Ocean Bay Park, Kismet, Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Atlantique, and Dunewood. Multiple daily departures with seasonal schedule variations and a 30-minute crossing time. Tickets sold as one-way or round-trip with senior and child fare options.
- Fire Island Water Taxi Service Beach-to-beach on-demand water transportation between Fire Island communities, providing flexible inter-island travel for visitors and residents without requiring them to route back through Bay Shore. Operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary and bookable through the mTickets app or by phone (631.665.8885).
- Private Charter Ferry Service Private ferry charter bookings for events and special occasions including school field trips, weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, company events, family reunions, sports teams, and memorial ceremonies. Available for daytime and evening time slots.
- Fire Island Freight Service Cargo shipping between the Long Island mainland and Fire Island communities handling bikes, furniture, bulk groceries, building supplies, and oversize cargo that the passenger ferry cannot accommodate. Operated through the Fire Island Freight subsidiary with an online freight tracking system and dedicated account portal.
- Bay Shore Terminal Parking Daily, overnight, and long-term parking at the Bay Shore ferry terminal lots plus Bay Shore Marina overflow parking during peak Summer Schedule. Online season parking reservations supported through a dedicated management system.
Companies that use Fire Island Ferries
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fire Island Ferries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Fire Island Ferries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Sayville FerryminorSeparate ferry service providing transportation to eastern Fire Island communities including Cherry Grove, F.I. Pines, Sailor's Haven/Sunken Forest, and Water Island. Fire Island Ferries website links to Sayville Ferry schedules for communities not served directly.
- David Bros. TaxisminorTaxi service that meets arriving trains at Bay Shore LIRR station, facilitating connections between train and ferry.
- Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)minorRail service connecting NYC to Bay Shore station (about 1 hour from NYC). Bay Shore station is approximately 1 mile from ferry terminals.
- Fire Island Water TaximinorRelated water taxi service for beach-to-beach transportation on Fire Island, available through same mTickets app. Phone: 631.665.8885
- Fire Island FreightminorSeparate freight service for bikes, furniture, bulk groceries, and building supplies to Fire Island communities. Freight tracking and account portal available at fifreight.com
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fire Island Ferries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hornblower Cruises: National operator of passenger cruises, ferries, and water-based excursions across multiple US cities. Comparable in passenger marine services and charter business lines, though at substantially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- NY Waterway: Largest privately operated commuter ferry service in the New York Harbor, also running seasonal routes to Sandy Hook beach. Comparable passenger-only ferry operator in the same regional market with broader route network.
- NYC Ferry: City-operated commuter ferry network across the five boroughs with mobile ticketing. Comparable in technology (mobile-first ticketing) and passenger ferry model, though operated at significantly larger scale under municipal contract.
Direct peers
- Cape May-Lewes Ferry: Operates passenger and vehicle ferry service across the Delaware Bay between Cape May, NJ and Lewes, DE. Comparable mid-sized regional ferry operator with similar revenue mix (passenger + vehicle + freight) and seasonal leisure orientation.
- SeaStreak: Operates commuter and seasonal passenger ferries between the New Jersey shore, Manhattan, and beach destinations like Sandy Hook and Atlantic Highlands. Comparable Northeastern seasonal passenger ferry operator with a similar customer base.
- Steamship Authority: Operates year-round ferry service between Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, combining passenger, vehicle, and freight transport. Highly comparable business model — seasonal-island ferry operator with freight overlay and monopolistic route position.
- Block Island Ferry: Operates year-round and seasonal passenger and freight ferry service between Point Judith, Galilee, and New London to Block Island, Rhode Island. Comparable seasonal-island ferry with passenger, vehicle, and freight lanes.
- Sayville Ferry Service: Operates passenger ferry service to eastern Fire Island communities (Cherry Grove, Fire Island Pines, Sailor's Haven) from Sayville. Closest direct competitor, serving the same island with the same business model from an adjacent mainland terminal.
- Hy-Line Cruises: Family-run ferry and cruise operator running scheduled passenger and high-speed ferry service between Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Comparable mid-sized regional island ferry with charter and sightseeing services.
Others
- Hampton Jitney: Privately operated intercity bus and charter service connecting NYC to the Hamptons on Long Island. Serves the same discretionary Long Island leisure traveler as Fire Island Ferries and competes for the same NYC-based summer day-trip wallet.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fire Island Ferries social profiles
Digital presenceFire Island Ferries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fire Island Ferries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Fire Island Ferries subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Fire Island Ferries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fire Island Ferries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fire Island Ferries
What does Fire Island Ferries do?
Fire Island Ferries, Inc. is a privately held ferry operator headquartered in Bay Shore, New York, that runs scheduled passenger ferry service from three Bay Shore terminals to eight western Fire Island communities (Ocean Beach, Seaview, Ocean Bay Park, Kismet, Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Atlantique, Dunewood). Complementing the core passenger route, the company sells beach-to-beach water taxi trips between communities, freight shipping for bikes, furniture, bulk groceries, building supplies, and oversize cargo, private ferry charters for events, and parking at Bay Shore terminal lots. Operations run year-round with peak service from April through October and are accessed through terminal ticket windows or the mTickets mobile app with no advance reservation required.
Is Fire Island Ferries a public or private company?
Fire Island Ferries is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Fire Island Ferries founded?
Fire Island Ferries was founded in 1948. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Fire Island Ferries based?
Fire Island Ferries is headquartered in Bay Shore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fire Island Ferries make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Passenger Ferry Tickets are the primary driver. The others are water Taxi Services, freight Services, private Charters and parking Services.
Who are Fire Island Ferries's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hornblower Cruises, NY Waterway and NYC Ferry. Direct peers are Cape May-Lewes Ferry, SeaStreak, Steamship Authority, Block Island Ferry, Sayville Ferry Service and Hy-Line Cruises. Hampton Jitney is listed as an others.
Does Fire Island Ferries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fire Island Ferries.
What industry is Fire Island Ferries in?
Fire Island Ferries's product category is Passenger Ferry Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFALAA, Passenger Ferry Operators (Interisland/Intercity), with a secondary code of THAEAGAB, Island & Archipelago Ferry Services. Its NAICS code is 483114 and its SIC code is 4400.