Following the September 11 attacks in New York City, many people were unable to leave Lower Manhattan due to the closure of bridges and tunnels and mass transportation.

[14][15] In addition to vessel coordination, the Coast Guard assisted at the Fresh Kills Landfill and Lower Manhattan with human remains and property recovery operations.

[18] After the attacks on the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard tug USCGC Hawser, homeported in Bayonne, New Jersey, was the first on scene in New York Harbor and acted as On-Scene Commander.

For hours Adak coordinated the evacuation of civilians, transport of firefighters and rescue personnel, and the establishment of security zones to protect other high valued assets from further attack.

[26] As part of the 20th anniversary commemoration, the New York Council Navy League of the United States honored the maritime operators for their heroism in "the Great Boatlift of 9/11".