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Castine Current

C

apt. Robert H. Pouch NYNM/

USNR (Ret.) ’62 presented an

account of the role played by Mer-

chant Mariners, including MMA alumni,

during the hours and days following the

9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade

Center. A gathering in Delano Audito-

rium marked the 15th anniversary of

9/11/2001.

Pouch shared a unique perspective.

At the time, he served as a captain in the

New York State Division of Military and

Naval Affairs/New York State Naval Mili-

tia, and Deputy Commander, Operations.

His presentation, a summary of which

follows, offers the exceptional role of the

New York Harbor maritime community

and merchant mariners:

Chaos and Courage

Dawn at Pilot Station New York on

September 11, 2001 presented a spectac-

ular sight— a cloudless, bright autumn

morning. As the sun rose, the city skyline

turned a shimmering golden spectacle,

including the iconic World Trade Center

and the Statue of Liberty.

Then at approximately 0830, without

warning, the terror attacks on the World Trade

Center commenced with the two commercial

passenger jet flying into the upper floors. The en-

suing fires and explosions caused both buildings

to collapse and fall to earth by mid-morning.

The Pentagon was also attacked, and another

hijacked passenger jet was commandeered by

heroic passengers and crashed into a Pennsylva-

nia farm field. Nearly 3,000 people died from the

combined attacks with thousands more

injured.

In lower Manhattan, the disaster

scene was chaotic. After both planes had

crashed into the buildings, there was

initial confusion. Some victims were told

to stay in place in their offices and await

further instructions. Others evacuated

via stairwells.

The scene at street level was traumatic.

Tens of thousands of people were fleeing

for safety, but were trapped in lower

Manhattan with no escape route avail-

able, some with serious injuries.

Faced with these conditions, the U.S.

Coast Guard issued an urgent radio call

on VHF to all mariners in the Port of

New York for “All Available Boats.”

The maritime industry immediately responded

with all of its personnel and equipment, and what

followed was a spontaneous and unified response.

Tug boats, high-speed ferries, dinner boats, char-

ter boats, fishing boats, excursion boats, police

launches and pilot boats approached the sea walls

of southern Manhattan to evacuate an estimated

500,000 survivors to places of safety in nearby

Brooklyn, New Jersey and Staten Island. It was

the largest maritime evacuation in history,

according to several sources. [Their story

is chronicled in a 10-minute YouTube vid-

eo, Boatlift narrated by Tom Hanks, which

Pouch shared with the audience.]

This rescue operation was sponta-

neously coordinated and carried out by

experienced mariners with expert local

knowledge; colleagues who instinctively

knew what had to be done. They grasped

the urgent task at hand. They took full

responsibility, and they took immediate

action.

No one sent a bill. There was never any

discussion of compensation.

Even today, emergency response ex-

perts and planners cannot grasp the scope

and success of the 9/11 rescue mission. It

is difficult for some people to comprehend

the bonds and value system of mariners in

such circumstances.

However, the spirit of mutual aid and

volunteerism amongst mariners is legend-

ary among the public and private sectors

in the Port of New York, and throughout

the world. We are honored to recognize

their distinguished service, which sets an

example for others to follow.

Among his career achievements, Pouch has held

senior management positions at Pouch Terminal,

Inc.; Medalist Industries Inc., Holland Division;

Hapag Lloyd-United States Navigation Inc.; Barber

Steamship Lines, Inc. and Barber Ship Manage-

ment Inc.; and as U. S. General Agent for the U.S.

Maritime Administration and U.S. Navy Military

Sealift Command.

9/11 REMEMBRANCE

MMA alumnus shares little-known maritime story of historic evacuation

Colleges across the U.S. created memorials using 2,977 American flags to remember

the lives lost on September 11, 2001. Members of SGA produced a silent memorial

on campus that was viewable from September 10-18. (Photo by Janice Folk)

(Left) Capt. Pouch (Right) The catasrophe summoned an unprecedented response from mariners.