Pre-boarding Securing Screening
Your safety and security are our top priority.
The National Park Service operates two security screening facilities, one in The Battery, New York City, and one in Liberty State Park, Jersey City, New Jersey. All visitors boarding ferries to Liberty Island and Ellis Island must pass through airport-like screening.
The time listed on the ferry ticket is the time you need to join the queue for the security screening facility. It is not a reservation time for a ferry departure. Queues can be an hour or more during peak times, including summer, weekends, and holidays.
Prohibited Items on the Ferries
-
Do not carry any of the items mentioned below into the security screening area. Items that are surrendered will not be returned.
-
Do not leave items unattended at any time.
-
There are NO locker storage areas at the screening facilities in either The Battery or Liberty State Park.
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:
-
ALL weapons, including firearms any dangerous items, and any "dual-use" items that could be dangerous.
-
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), drones, and other, similar remote-controlled flying devices or vehicles.
-
Flags, posters, banners, and other similar items exceeding three (3) feet in length by three (3) feet in width.
-
LARGE packages. Suitcases, carry-on luggage, and other, large parcels will not be permitted on the ferry systems or at Liberty and Ellis Islands.
-
Face masks and/or costumes that are designed to conceal the identity of a person are prohibited.
-
All permanent and erasable markers.
-
Audio amplification devices such as speaker systems, personal wireless speakers, radios, megaphones, bull horns, and other similar devices.
Please visit our Security Standards & Prohibited Items page for the full list of items that are not allowed through primary screening.
