The waterborne evacuation on 9/11 | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
US
World
Politics
Business
Health
Entertainment
Style
Travel
Sports
Science
Climate
Weather
Ukraine-Russia War
Israel-Hamas War
Games
US World Politics Business Health Entertainment Style Travel Sports Science Climate Weather Ukraine-Russia War Israel-Hamas War Games
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Elections 2026
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Follow CNN
Download the CNN App
Download the CNN App
Opinion

The waterborne evacuation on 9/11

Published 5:31 PM EDT, Sat August 12, 2017
Link Copied!
When terrorists struck the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, a variety of vessels in New York Harbor evacuated people from the stricken part of Manhattan. Staten Island Ferries like the one shown here made runs back and forth to Manhattan all day, evacuating more than 50,000 people.
When terrorists struck the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, a variety of vessels in New York Harbor evacuated people from the stricken part of Manhattan. Staten Island Ferries like the one shown here made runs back and forth to Manhattan all day, evacuating more than 50,000 people.
Courtesy New York City Police Department
Lines for Circle Line, World Yacht and New York Waterway boats at 38th St. on Manhattan's West Side extended for more than 30 blocks. Some people waited for three hours to board a boat.
Lines for Circle Line, World Yacht and New York Waterway boats at 38th St. on Manhattan's West Side extended for more than 30 blocks. Some people waited for three hours to board a boat.
Courtesy New York City Police Department
Fireboat John J. Harvey can be seen loading passengers just south of South Cove, adjacent to the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Farther south, New York Waterway ferries and tugboats load passengers from the sea wall in Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park as a US Coast Guard vessel approaches.
Fireboat John J. Harvey can be seen loading passengers just south of South Cove, adjacent to the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Farther south, New York Waterway ferries and tugboats load passengers from the sea wall in Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park as a US Coast Guard vessel approaches.
Courtesy New York City Police Department
New York Waterway boats nose up to the sea wall at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park, north of Pier A (with the green-roofed tower). Just out of view is a small dock where Chelsea Screamer Capt. Sean Kennedy asked firefighters to break the lock so passengers could board.
New York Waterway boats nose up to the sea wall at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park, north of Pier A (with the green-roofed tower). Just out of view is a small dock where Chelsea Screamer Capt. Sean Kennedy asked firefighters to break the lock so passengers could board.
Courtesy New York City Police Department
The view north from above Governor's Island shows a fleet of diverse vessels approaching smoke-filled Lower Manhattan and the Battery at the southern tip of the island. New Jersey is on the left.
The view north from above Governor's Island shows a fleet of diverse vessels approaching smoke-filled Lower Manhattan and the Battery at the southern tip of the island. New Jersey is on the left.
Courtesy New York City Police Department
New York Waterway ferries and thrill ride/tour boat Chelsea Screamer (far right) evacuated passengers as the second tower collapsed. The white tent covering the World Financial Center ferry terminal can be seen at the edge of the advancing dust cloud.
New York Waterway ferries and thrill ride/tour boat Chelsea Screamer (far right) evacuated passengers as the second tower collapsed. The white tent covering the World Financial Center ferry terminal can be seen at the edge of the advancing dust cloud.
Courtesy New York City Police Department
The view south from Manhattan shows tugs racing from Staten Island and New Jersey to the Battery. On the left is the southern tip of Governors Island. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is visible in the background.
The view south from Manhattan shows tugs racing from Staten Island and New Jersey to the Battery. On the left is the southern tip of Governors Island. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is visible in the background.
Courtesy New York City Police Department
Passengers disembark just north of Paulus Hook in Jersey City. A ferry terminal receives smaller ferryboats and NYPD vessels, while larger boats, including Fireboat John D. McKean, drop their passengers at the abandoned wooden pier on the left. On the shore, EMTs have begun laying out color-coded tarps to tend to the injured in their makeshift triage center.
Passengers disembark just north of Paulus Hook in Jersey City. A ferry terminal receives smaller ferryboats and NYPD vessels, while larger boats, including Fireboat John D. McKean, drop their passengers at the abandoned wooden pier on the left. On the shore, EMTs have begun laying out color-coded tarps to tend to the injured in their makeshift triage center.
Courtesy New York City Police Department

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Elections 2026
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Headlines
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Follow CNN

Download the CNN app
Download the CNN app

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts Sitemap

© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.