42 FOGHORN FOGHORN FOCUS This Sept. 11, Fire Island Ferries was recognized by Long Island’s O-High Foundation for their work in New York City’s recovery efforts. Initially hesitant to receive any recognition for their services, the Fire Island Ferries team agreed, seeing it as a way for generations born after the at- tacks to learn more about all that was done to support the city as it recovered from the tragedy. Twenty-five years ago, a clear, bright morning turned into one of the darkest days in America’s history when four passenger jets were hijacked by terrorists. Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pa., after passengers onboard fought to regain control of the flight. The remaining three planes reached their intended targets: Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon and Flight 11 and Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. The Twin Towers of Lower Manhattan’s Financial Dis- trict, longstanding giants that defined the city skyline for decades, collapsed within two hours of the attack, killing 2,753 people and exposing thousands of first responders to lethal debris. The city’s famous subway system ground to a halt. Bridges and tunnels were closed. Streets in Low- er Manhattan were cordoned off. The U.S. Coast Guard locked down New York Harbor. No one knew what was yet to come that day, and people needed to evacuate. Later known as Operation Boatlift 9/11, mariners and ves- sel operators in the harbor immediately offered their ser- vices in evacuation efforts, carrying an estimated 500,000 passengers to safety that day. It was not the only way that mariners would aid the city through the catastrophe. On the day of the attack, the team at Fire Island Ferries watched the events unfold. With the harbor only four hours away yet closed to all vessel traffic in and out, they couldn’t do anything that day except begin preparations to offer their service. They knew they would get there to help, but at first, Director of Operations and Gener- al Manager Dave Anderson said, “It was hurry up and wait.” Only a few days later, they received a call; it was time to act. Fellow PVA member NY Waterway reached out for assis- tance as the city began bringing people back to the Finan- cial District. With multiple subways lines and other trans- portation modes compromised, rescue workers, emergency personnel, and city workers heading to Manhattan needed a way across the water. Mariners, including Fire Island Fer- ries, were key to helping people return to the island. Logistics were the first hurdle as the team worked to find accommodations for crew, coordinated with NY Water- way on where they would dock, what routes they would sail, and other details such as where fuel would be sourced. They also had to account for their own regular and on- going operation in ferrying patrons to Fire Island off the coast of Long Island, N.Y. After completing their scheduled cruises on Sunday, Sept. 16, crews aboard three Fire Island Ferry vessels—Voyager, Explorer, and Fireball—were underway to New York Har- bor, docking in Weehawken, N.J. around 10:30 p.m. that night. On Monday morning, less than a week after the attacks, the ferries set off on their new routes carrying pas- sengers from three locations in New Jersey to Manhattan’s Pier 11 as the city sought to find its footing in the after- math of the tragedy. Anderson was aboard the Voyager on the first trip into the city and described the scene that unfolded before them as they transited down the Hudson River. “You could see what looked like a war zone ahead of us,” he said. “It was beautiful day, but you could see the smoke, the smog, the haze, the dust, the smell—the awful smell of electri- Fellow PVA member NY Waterway reached out for assistance as the city began bringing people back to the Financial District. Mariners, including Fire Island Ferries, were key to people navigating their return to the island.
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