Remembering the Luling ferry disaster 49 years later

Monday marks 49 years since the MV George Prince ferry disaster in St. Charles Parish—the deadliest ferry disaster in U.S. history.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 20, 1976, the ferry George Prince was making its routine 10‐minute crossing on the Mississippi River from Destrehan to Luling, about 20 miles upstream from New Orleans, when it was struck by the Norwegian tanker SS Frosta.

Reports indicate that the ferry's pilot failed to sound the legally required whistle signal to indicate departure and intention to cross the river.

The ferry, loaded with 95 passengers and vehicles—mostly plant and construction workers heading to their jobs—was hit broadside and overturned, dumping passengers and their vehicles into the river. Seventy-eight people lost their lives. Only 18 survived.

Fed