San Francisco Bay Area Ferry

What San Francisco Bay Area Ferry does

San Francisco Bay Ferry is the public-facing brand of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), a California regional public transit agency that develops, operates, and expands ferry service across the San Francisco Bay. The agency operates six scheduled routes plus special-event services, connecting seven communities - Oakland, Alameda (Main Street and Harbor Bay), Vallejo, Richmond, South San Francisco, and Alameda Seaplane Lagoon - to Downtown San Francisco, with 152 trans-bay trips per weekday and an 18-vessel fleet contracted to Blue & Gold Fleet for day-to-day operations. WETA's underlying technology stack is conventional public-transit IT, with GTFS and GTFS-Realtime schedule and operational data published openly under an ODC-BY license via Swiftly, a mobile-ticketing application backed by Anchor Operating System, Clipper Card integration for regional fare payment, and BayAlerts notifications powered by SimplifyTransit; the agency is currently building the nation's first five battery-electric high-speed passenger ferries (Sea-Wolf, Rosie, Farallon, Doubtfire, Say Hey) in Washington State, with the first vessel entering service in mid-2027.

The agency's revenue model is a farebox transaction model layered on a public-authority funding base: passenger fares vary by route distance from $2.85 (Alameda Short Hop) to $10.00 (Vallejo), with 50% discounts for youth, senior, disabled, and Clipper START riders and free service on the Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle, and fares were restructured upward effective July 1, 2026 with additional adjustments planned for FY2027 and FY2028. Customers access the service through terminal walk-up boarding, the SF Bay Ferry mobile app, Clipper Card tap-on/tap-off, contactless bank-card tap-and-ride, and paper tickets, with no advance reservation required for individual travelers. WETA carries approximately 3.2 million annual boardings as of the 12 months through April 2026, employs roughly 30 staff at the agency level (vessel operations are contracted), and reports 98% customer satisfaction sustained across three consecutive years. The agency is governed by a five-member board with seats appointed by the California Governor, Senate Rules Committee, and Assembly Speaker.

Name

San Francisco Bay Area Ferry

Legal name

San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority

Website

https://sanfranciscobayferry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

San Francisco Bay Ferry (WETA) is a California regional public transit agency operating 152 weekday ferry trips across six routes connecting seven Bay Area communities to Downtown San Francisco with an 18-vessel fleet, generating revenue from passenger fares while transitioning to battery-electric vessels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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 (Intercity & Regional) (THAEAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

High-Speed Passenger Ferries (THAIAJAC), Ferry & Passenger Water Transport Operators (TLAFAAAN), High-Speed Catamaran & Fast Ferry Services (THAEAGAD)

Keywords

• Passenger ferry service
• Public transit ferry
• Water transportation
• Commuter ferry routes
• Regional transit agency

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ferry Fares: SF Bay Ferry generates revenue primarily through passenger fares collected at terminals and via mobile app. Fares vary by route distance, with adult fares ranging from $2.85 (Alameda Short Hop) to $10.00 (Vallejo). Discount fares at 50% are available for youth, seniors, disabled passengers, and Clipper START users. The Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle is provided free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SF Bay Ferry operates scheduled passenger ferry service across the San Francisco Bay, connecting seven communities (San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda, Vallejo, Richmond, Harbor Bay, South San Francisco) via six regular routes and special event service to Oracle Park and Chase Center. The agency runs 152 trans-bay trips per weekday using a fleet of 18 vessels, with tickets sold at terminals, via the SF Bay Ferry mobile app, through Clipper Card, and onboard with paper media or contactless bank cards. Day-to-day vessel operations are contracted to Blue & Gold Fleet from Pier 41, and the agency is adding five battery-electric high-speed ferries with the first (Sea-Wolf) targeted to enter service in mid-2027.

Product overview

San Francisco Bay Ferry is a regional public transit agency operating a network of ferry routes across the San Francisco Bay. The core offering consists of regular ferry service connecting Oakland, Alameda, Vallejo, Richmond, Harbor Bay, South San Francisco, and Alameda Seaplane to Downtown San Francisco, plus special event services to Oracle Park and Chase Center. Supporting the core transit service are multiple digital and convenience products: the SF Bay Ferry Mobile App for ticketing, BayAlerts for real-time notifications, the Bike & Glide program for bicycle and scooter accommodation, Tides & Tunes onboard entertainment, and an online merchandise store. The agency also provides open transit data via GTFS/GTFS-Realtime feeds. Future expansion includes five battery-electric high-speed passenger ferries under construction, with the first vessel (Sea-Wolf) launching in 2027. A pilot AI-powered whale detection system using thermal cameras is also being tested for collision prevention.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oakland & Alameda Ferry Route Regular ferry service connecting Oakland and Alameda to Downtown San Francisco, operating seven days a week with multiple daily departures for commuters and recreational riders.
• Vallejo Ferry Route Ferry service connecting Vallejo and Mare Island to Downtown San Francisco; has had the highest passenger count systemwide for 22 consecutive months as of May 2026.
• Richmond Ferry Route Ferry service connecting Richmond to Downtown San Francisco, featuring free Tides & Tunes live performances on final Fridays May through October.
• Harbor Bay Ferry Route Ferry service connecting the Harbor Bay area of Alameda to Downtown San Francisco.
• South San Francisco Ferry Route Ferry service connecting South San Francisco to Downtown San Francisco; adult fare $7.60 with 50% discount available.
• Alameda Seaplane Ferry Route Ferry service connecting the Alameda Seaplane lagoon area to San Francisco.
• Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle Free water shuttle service connecting Jack London Square in Oakland to Alameda Landing, launched as part of the agency's 2021 service expansion.
• Oracle Park Special Event Ferry Service Special event ferry service to Oracle Park for San Francisco Giants games and other events.
• Chase Center Special Event Ferry Service Special event ferry service to Chase Center for Golden State Warriors games, Valkyries games, and other events.
• SF Bay Ferry Mobile App Mobile ticketing application available for iOS and Android that lets riders purchase tickets, activate mobile tickets prior to boarding, and buy group tickets, powered by Anchor Operating System.
• SF Bay Ferry Open Data (GTFS / GTFS-Realtime) Public transit schedule and real-time data feeds available under the ODC-BY license, including GTFS static schedule data and GTFS-Realtime Trip Updates, Vehicle Positions, and Service Alerts via Swiftly.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ridership growth of 8% year-over-year in May 2026 with 301,270 passengers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Blue & Gold FleetcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBlue & Gold Fleet is the contracted operator of San Francisco Bay Ferry service, handling day-to-day vessel operations, captain and crew staffing, and passenger services. Located at Pier 41, San Francisco, CA 94133. Contact: (415) 705-8200.
• San Francisco ChronicleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSF Bay Ferry collaborated with SF Chronicle culture critic Peter Hartlaub to engage Bay Area residents in naming the five new battery-electric ferries. Over 1,500 nominations and 26,000 votes were received through the community engagement campaign.
• Mare Island CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for the bi-annual Ferry Fest event celebrating ferry service and Mare Island community.
• Mare Island Historic FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Ferry Fest community events at Mare Island.
• Free Music CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Tides & Tunes live music events and special programming.
• Visit VallejominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Vallejo Ferry Fest events.
• 707 DayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Vallejo Ferry Fest events.
• SwiftlycoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides GTFS-Realtime feeds for trip updates, vehicle positions, and service alerts. Agency key: sfbay-ferry. Enables real-time transit information integration.
• SimplifyTransitcoreTechnology or IntegrationPowers BayAlerts, the subscription-based real-time ferry rider notification system delivering service disruptions and schedule changes via text and email.
• Anchor Operating System, LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides mobile ticketing services through the SF Bay Ferry App, enabling ticket purchases and activation.
• Bay Area Metro CentercoreOthersJoint facility hosting SF Bay Ferry's Head Office at 375 Beale St., Suite 310, San Francisco, CA 94105.
• San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMCEDA President and CEO Rosanne Foust appointed to SF Bay Ferry Board of Directors, bringing economic development expertise and regional transportation advocacy.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Staten Island Ferry: Free passenger ferry operated by the New York City Department of Transportation between Manhattan and Staten Island. Comparable urban passenger ferry service with very high ridership volumes, but operates as a single iconic route rather than a multi-route network.
• Hornblower Group: National passenger ferry, cruise, and water-experience operator (NYC Ferry operator, parent of Anchor Operating System which powers SF Bay Ferry's mobile app). Comparable as a scaled operator with urban commuter ferry contracts and adjacent cruise/tourism services.

Direct peers

• NYC Ferry: Operator of passenger ferry routes across New York City's waterways, owned by The City of New York and operated by Hornblower. Comparable commuter-oriented urban water transit network with multiple routes, terminals, and integrated ticketing.
• Golden Gate Ferry: Operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, Golden Gate Ferry runs passenger ferry service between Larkspur, Sausalito, Tiburon, and San Francisco. It is the closest regional peer, sharing Bay Area water transit, commuter orientation, and government-authority structure.
• Washington State Ferries: Washington State Ferries operates the largest passenger ferry system in the U.S. and is the state's public transit ferry agency. Comparable as a government-operated passenger ferry network with route diversification and electrified vessel planning, though at much larger geographic scale.
• Blue & Gold Fleet: Privately operated ferry and charter service in San Francisco Bay, headquartered at Pier 41. Blue & Gold Fleet is the contracted operator of SF Bay Ferry's vessel operations and is the most direct operational counterpart, given it runs the day-to-day service for WETA.

Regional players

• MBTA Ferry (Boston Harbor Now): Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority operates commuter ferry routes between Boston's inner harbor and harbor islands. Comparable as a public transit ferry service, but operates on a different East Coast waterway and serves a distinct geographic market.

Emerging players

• King County Water Taxi (Seattle): Passenger water taxi service operated by King County Metro in the Puget Sound area, including West Seattle and Vashon Island routes. Comparable as a small public-agency passenger ferry service, but at a smaller scale and operating in a different region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SFBayFerry
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SanFranciscoBayFerry
• Facebookfacebook.com/sanfranciscobayferry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sf-bay-ferry
• Instagraminstagram.com/sanfranciscobayferry

Compliance1 record

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 San Francisco Bay Area Ferry