After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, more than 500,000 people were evacuated from Lower Manhattan by boats in less than 9 hours, making it the largest maritime evacuation in U.S. history. The operation involved over 150 vessels, including merchant ships, ferries, fireboats, private yachts, tugboats, and even small rubber dinghies. More than 800 mariners and countless volunteers were part of the effort coordinated by the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies like the NYPD, FDNY, and private companies.
Unfolding of the Biggest Maritime Evacuation in the U.S
After the collapse of the Twin Towers, bridges, transit routes, and tunnels were closed, leaving many people stranded. The Coast Guard issued a call for all available boats to assist in the evacuation effort. Ships lined along the waterfront, and lines of evacuees stretched as many waited to board and go to a safe place. Boat operators communicated with each other using marine radios, hand signals, etc., as modern communication systems were down.
The operation continued for hours, with boats making several repeated voyages across the Hudson and East Rivers to Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New Jersey. Coast Guard cutters like Katherine Walker, Adak, and Tahoma were among the first federal vessels to reach the site and helped coordinate the response and maintain security zones. Ferry operators such as NY Waterway, Staten Island Ferry, and SeaStreak played vital roles, with NY Waterway alone moving about 150,000 people. Fireboats like John J. Harvey and Fire Fighter evacuated people and provided water for firefighting when hydrants failed.
Despite the chaos, the operation was a major success, with no serious accidents occurring. The 9/11 Boatlift is viewed as an act of bravery, solidarity, and quick thinking on the part of the Coast Guard and other agencies, as well as private companies, all of whom played a crucial role in saving the lives of Americans.
The event serves as a powerful example of the maritime community’s commitment to never leaving anyone behind. Andrew McGovern of the Sandy Hook Pilots Association stated, “Every mariner is taught that you never, ever leave someone out there. If someone calls for help, you go. It’s ingrained in every mariner. It’s the real basis of why everything happened.”
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