Fire Island Ferries resumes service to Ocean Beach

Fire Island Ferries resumed ferry and water taxi services to Ocean Beach on Sunday after the Bay Shore-based private ferry operator and the Village of Ocean Beach were able to come to terms over the use of the village-owned ferry terminal and freight dock.  Fire Island Ferries took the rare step of suspending service to Ocean Beach earlier this month after their current lease lapsed at the end of 2021.  This is believed to have been the first non-weather related suspension of this kind to Ocean Beach in the company's 70-year history.  Ocean Beach is one of a few communities on Fire Island with an established, year-round population and regular ferry service during the winter months.

Passengers board a Fire Island Ferries boat to Bay Shore
at the Ocean Beach ferry landing (Photo: The LIRR Today)

The terms of the new agreement have not been disclosed.  Fire Island Ferries was seeking concessions worth approximately $300,000 in the form of reductions for rental fees for the village-owned ferry terminal and freight dock as well as rate increases for resident ticket books and parking, which is subsidized by the village.