The 9/11 Boatlift Monument
On September 11, 2001, when bridges and tunnels were closed and Lower Manhattan was cut off, the maritime community answered the call. Ferries, tugboats, fishing boats, and private vessels formed an extraordinary civilian flotilla that carried nearly 500,000 people to safety in what became the largest maritime evacuation in history, now known as the 9/11 Boatlift.
Mariners from across the New York harbor and throughout the maritime industry were among those who responded that day—including many SUNY Maritime alumni working in the region. At the same time, SUNY Maritime students watched the events unfold across the harbor from our campus—an experience that left a profound and lasting impact.
Today, our current students—most of whom were not yet born in 2001—are leading an effort to build a permanent monument on campus commemorating the 9/11 Boatlift. The monument will stand at the very place where students witnessed that historic day and will honor the mariners and first responders who answered the call without hesitation.
Funds raised will support the design and construction of the monument, interpretive and educational signage, landscaping and lighting, a dedication ceremony and programming, and a long-term maintenance and preservation fund.
With your support, this monument will serve as a lasting tribute to the courage of the maritime community and ensure that the story of the 9/11 Boatlift continues to inspire future generations of mariners to answer the call – One Hand.
To learn more about being a founding sponsor, please contact Jennifer Mahoney, Vice President, Institutional Advancement.