RMS Empress of Ireland

29/05/2026

On this day, 112 years ago, the ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland sank near the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River following a devastating collision in thick fog with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad in the early hours of May 29, 1914.
Although the ship was equipped with watertight compartments and, in the aftermath of the RMS Titanic disaster two years earlier, carried more than enough lifeboats for everyone on board, the tragedy could not be averted. Struck heavily on her starboard side, the ship took on water rapidly and foundered in a mere 14 minutes. The severe list made launching most of the lifeboats completely impossible.
Of the 1,477 passengers and crew on board, 1,012 perished in the freezing waters. Today, we remember the victims of the worst peacetime marine disaster in Canadian history and continue to preserve their memory.

29/05/2023

On this day, 109 years ago, RMS Empress of Ireland sank near the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River following a collision in thick fog with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad in the early hours of 29 May 1914. Although the ship was equipped with watertight compartments and, in the aftermath of the RMS Titanic disaster two years earlier, carried more than enough lifeboats for all onboard, she foundered in only 14 minutes. Of the 1,477 people on board, 1,012 died, making it the worst peacetime marine disaster in Canadian history.

29/05/2022

On this day, 108 years ago, RMS Empress of Ireland sank near the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River following a collision in thick fog with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad in the early hours of 29 May 1914. Although the ship was equipped with watertight compartments and, in the aftermath of the RMS Titanic disaster two years earlier, carried more than enough lifeboats for all onboard, she foundered in only 14 minutes. Of the 1,477 people on board, 1,012 died, making it the worst peacetime marine disaster in Canadian history.

31/12/2020

We at Historic ships network wish you all Happy New Year!
Thank you for your incredible support, we love you all and wish you only the best!

We at Historic ships network wish you all Happy New Year!
Thank you for your incredible support, we love you all and wish you only the best!

30/06/2020

On this day, Jun 29, 1906, 114 years ago, RMS Empress or Ireland departed Liverpool for Quebec City on her maiden voyage! The following morning she made port at Moville, a coastal town on the north coast of Ireland, to pick up a number of Irish immigrants before making for the open Atlantic. On her first trip across the Atlantic she carried 1,257 passengers, with 119 in First Class and 342 in Second Class, Third Class being booked well past capacity with 796, a large number of small children and infants among them.

29/05/2020

On this day, 106 years ago, RMS Empress of Ireland sank near the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River following a collision in thick fog with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad in the early hours of 29 May 1914. Although the ship was equipped with watertight compartments and, in the aftermath of the RMS Titanic disaster two years earlier, carried more than enough lifeboats for all onboard, she foundered in only 14 minutes. Of the 1,477 people on board, 1,012 died, making it the worst peacetime marine disaster in Canadian history.

13/04/2020

RMS Empress of Ireland wreck.
Painting by Ken Marschall - Artist

29/05/2017

On this day 103 years ago, on May 29th, 1914, Canadian Pacific Steamship's RMS Empress of Ireland sank in the Saint Lawrence River, after being struck by the Norwegian collier SS Storstad in sudden heavy fog. Of the 1,477 people on board, 1,012 died, while ship sank in only 14 minutes. The number of deaths is the largest of any Canadian maritime accident in peacetime

30/01/2017

The RMS Empress of Ireland was christened and launched on January 27th, 1906. The 14,191-ton vessel would run the Quebec, Quebec - Liverpool route for the Canadian Pacific Shipping Line alongside her sister ship RMS Empress of Britain. She sank in 1914 with great loss of life.