Canadian Pacific’s Empress of Canada had arrived at Liverpool on 10th January 1953 for her annual refit. Once complete, on 24th January she was moved from the drydock to Gladstone Dock. She was already well-booked for the coming season, as it was the Coronation Year in the UK. The next day, 25th January, there were around 250 workers aboard completing the final cleaning, plus a skeleton crew.

That afternoon fire broke out on B Deck, and quickly spread. The fire was so intense 18 pumps were called in as well as a fire and salvage tug. Eventually there were over 40 units and 200 firemen on site. Firefighters had to wear breathing apparatus. At 10.00pm the order was given to abandon ship, and the firemen were ordered to concentrate on protecting the adjacent warehouses.

Early the next morning Empress of Canada capsized. She was soon declared a total loss, and salvage operations began. After removing all top hamper and sealing any openings, on 6th March 1954 she was rolled upright and then raised. On 14th September the remains were sold for scrapping at La Spezia, but the tow proved extremely difficult and she didn’t arrive until 10th October 1954, where she was finally demolished.