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NEW YORK (CBS/AP) ― The aircraft carrier Intrepid—in the midst of an 18-month makeover—will return to Manhattan next fall prepared for double duty: its renewed status as a floating military museum, and a future as a potential command post in the event of another terrorist attack.

"Upon its return, it will stand at the ready should we need her," said Mark Mershon, head of the FBI's New York office. The legendary World War II ship was retrofitted with an onboard facility that could double as an emergency operations center if needed, he said Thursday.

The Intrepid is considered ideal for a law enforcement because it could be immediately and easily converted into a full-fledged, secure auxiliary emergency operations post with air, sea and land capability, said Bill White, president of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies used the Intrepid for more than a month after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

"Within 20 minutes of the second plane hitting the World Trade Center towers, officials requested that Intrepid be used," said White. A temporary command post was set up with hundreds of federal agents and members of the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force fielding thousands of phone calls over the weeks. Many of them stayed in sleeping bags in the ship's hangar bay.

It was the first time since the storied Intrepid was mothballed by the Navy in 1976 that the ship was called to serve.

"We proudly accepted the challenge to put her back into service," said White. "If asked, we will do it again on a moment's notice."

On Thursday, some 150 officials from 80 agencies—including the FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, fire and police departments—discussed preparations for the return.

"The Intrepid is a visual reminder of those who have served our country and all those who gave their lives for our freedom," said City Council speaker Christine Quinn.

The Intrepid also is regularly used by federal, state and city officials for drills and military training maneuvers. Painting apprentices even practice skills while hanging off it.

The federal government provided $31 million toward a $50 million project to rebuild Pier 86 in the Hudson River along Manhattan's west side, where Intrepid has been moored since it opened as a museum 25 years ago. The vessel is on target to return home on Sept. 26, 2008, and reopen to the public on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2008.

It is "a Herculean task" to move around an engineless ship, as long as three football fields, in one of the busiest harbors in the world, White noted.

"So many details need to be scrubbed and rescrubbed to make sure we get it right," said White. "We can't let her get stuck in the mud on the way back."

In November, plans to move the 36,000-ton war relic for its overhaul were delayed after its rudder and 15-foot propellers got stuck. A Navy dredging operation cleared the mud, freeing the ship to be towed to Bayonne, N.J. for exterior work. After that, it was towed to Staten Island, where it is undergoing a 12-month refurbishment, including the installation of state-of-the art exhibits.

The Intrepid took part in every major battle in the last two years of the Pacific War, helping to destroy Japan's powerful Imperial Navy, surviving five kamikaze suicide attacks. It lost 27 crewmembers. It later served in Korea and Vietnam and as a recovery ship for astronauts.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)