Historic 9/11 Coast Guard Cutter Could Come Home To Tampa Bay

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — More than 11,000 people across the United States and some leaders in Washington, D.C., have signed a petition to save an historic Coast Guard cutter from being sold to the Republic of Indonesia. Instead, the fans of the ship want to turn it into a 9/11 memorial and a museum in the Tampa Bay area.

The United States Coast Guard Cutter Adak led efforts to save more than 500,000 people during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, according to a news release from the USCGC Adak Historical Society.

The nonprofit organization had been working with the Coast Guard and Congress for about a year drafting a bill called the Cutter Conveyance Improvement Act of 2021, which would have given possession of the historic ship to the foundation. Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida agreed to sponsor the bill.

Just before the legislation was introduced, the Coast Guard decided to instead sell the cutter to a foreign country, according to the society.

"It's important to note that we offered to cover the costs associated with bringing the Adak back and paying for the dock fees, while the ship was moored and awaiting transfer," said James Judge, a former Coast Guardsman and crew member who served aboard the Adak, and founder of the USCGC Adak Historical Society. "We thought because of the pending legislation and the bipartisan support, that we were going to get the Adak, so it came as a surprise that the Coast Guard and the State Department decided to move forward with giving this historically important 9/11 artifact to a foreign country.”

The petition website said it needs 15,000 signatures to ask President Joe Biden to stop the sale. If you would like to sign the petition, click here.

Bilirakis said bringing the Adak to Tampa Bay is a meaningful endeavor worth undertaking. He hopes the Biden Administration will bring the Adak back to the United States, and offer an identical cutter to Indonesia.

"There are scores of Tampa Bay area residents who survived the horrific terror attacks of 9/11 who would find great peace, joy, and comfort knowing they can visit with their children and grandchildren a museum dedicated to the historic 9/11 rescue effort," Bilirakis said.

To read the letter sent by a few congressmen who urged leaders to reconsider in DC, click here.