MV George Prince Ferry Disaster

MV George Prince Ferry Disaster

The MV George Prince ferry disaster was a nautical disaster that occurred in the Mississippi River in Louisiana, United States, on the morning of October 20, 1976 (1976-10-20). The ferry George Prince was struck by the Norwegian tanker SS Frosta, which was traveling upriver. The collision occurred at mile post 120.8 above Head of Passes, less than three-quarters of a mile from the construction site of the bridge which would replace the ferry seven years later. The ferry was crossing from Destrehan, Louisiana on the East Bank to Luling, Louisiana on the West Bank. Ninety-six passengers and crew were aboard the ferry when it was struck, and seventy-eight perished. The accident occurred less than three years after the same ferry crossed the river in front of an upbound tow being pushed upriver by the M/V F. R. Bigelow when a different ferry operator failed to see the tow. The accident on February 4, 1974 resulted in no fatalities.