The RMS Empress of Japan, also known as the "Queen of the Pacific," was an influential ocean liner built between 1890 and 1891 by Naval Construction & Armaments Co. in Barrow-in-Furness, England. She was a 5,905-ton vessel measuring 455.6 feet in length with a beam of 51.2 feet, characterized by her white paint, clipper bow, and two buff-colored funnels with black bands. The ship featured three schooner-type masts and was powered by reciprocating engines driving twin propellers, enabling an average speed of 16 knots. Designed to carry 770 passengers—comprising 120 first class, 50 second class, and 600 steerage—she was primarily built for the trans-Pacific route between Canada and Asia. Launched on December 13, 1890, by Lady Alice Stanley, the Empress of Japan embarked on her maiden voyage on April 11, 1891, departing from Liverpool via Suez to Hong Kong and Vancouver. She regularly serviced the route, facilitating passenger travel and cargo transport, notably Japanese tea. Her notable achievements include winning the blue ribbon for the fastest trans-Pacific crossing in 1897 under Captain Henry Pybus. Over her career, she completed 315 crossings and traveled over 4 million kilometers. As the first of three ships in the CPR fleet to bear the "Empress of Japan" name, she played a vital role in establishing Canada's Pacific maritime trade. During World War I, she was refitted as an armed merchant cruiser, losing her luxurious appearance and serving under the British Admiralty. After the war, she was the only one of the initial three liners to resume her trans-Pacific service. She remained active until 1922, after which she was moored in Vancouver and used temporarily to house strikebreakers during a labor dispute. Her figurehead, a dragon, was preserved and displayed in Stanley Park, later replaced by a fiberglass replica, with the original now housed at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. The vessel’s interior elements were also scavenged by Vancouver residents, reflecting her significance in maritime history and local culture.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.