P&O Aurora passes the World Trade Center and the tribute in light

P&O Aurora passes the World Trade Center and the tribute in light on the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Aurora has a connection to the tragedy from 12 years ago: On the morning of 11 September 2001, Aurora was positioned approximately 80 miles south of New York City and 20 miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey while a conference of IT executives and vendors hosted by Richmond Events was occurring on board. The ship had embarked from Pier 53 in New York City on the evening of 9 September. Following the attacks on the World Trade Center that morning there were concerns for the safety of the British owned ship. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and vessels briefly protected the Aurora until it was determined that the vessel was not in danger. The ship was planned to return to Manhattan on 12 September but due to the closure of Pier 53 the ship instead sailed to Boston to disembark its passengers. Many of the executives on board were from the banking and financial services industries and it was estimated that as many as 50 executives worked in Tower 1 and Tower 2 of the World Trade Center and adjacent buildings. Reports from conference attendees were that several executives onboard were in communication via smartphones with their staffs in Tower 1 and Tower 2 who eventually perished in the collapse of those buildings. It was a solemn occasion as the ship saluted and payed its respects to those lost on one of the darkest days in human history. A Liveboat USA Production Video & Photographs by Byron Huart