South Ferry (Shelter Island)

The South Ferry Company, Inc.
Company typePrivate Company
IndustryTransportation
Founded1830 (1830)
HeadquartersShelter Island, New York
Area served
Long Island, New York
Key people
Clifford Clark, William Clark, Samuel G. Clark
ProductsFerry service
Websitehttps://www.southferry.com/

The South Ferry Company, Inc., locally referred to as South Ferry, operates a year-round public ferry service between Shelter Island and North Haven on Long Island, New York. It forms part of New York State Route 114.

The company was founded in 1830, however the first owner, Samuel G. Clark, had operated a ferry service in that location since at least 1793. Exact dates are not widely known, but the Clark family has owned the company continuously since at least 1845, making it possibly the oldest continuously family-owned ferry service in the United States. The company was added to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry (HBPR) in 2022.

As of 2025, the company operates five boats:

Vessel NameDeliveredStatus
Capt. Bill Clark1951Reserve
Lt. Joe Theinert1998Active
Sunrise2002Active
Southside (recently renamed Capt. Nick Morehead)2008Active
Southern Cross2020Active