U.S. maritime officials have honored the merchant mariners who helped evacuate hundreds of thousands of people from Lower Manhattan following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, as the United States marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

When bridges, tunnels and other transportation routes were disrupted, the U.S. Coast Guard called for available vessels in New York Harbor to assist. Ferries, tugboats, commercial vessels and private craft responded, carrying people away from Manhattan while some vessels transported emergency personnel toward the disaster area.