SS Empress Queen was a steel-hulled paddle steamer, the last of her type ordered by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

[1] The Admiralty chartered her in 1915 as a troop ship a role in which she saw service until she ran aground off Bembridge, Isle of Wight, England in 1916 and was subsequently abandoned.

The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Glasgow built Empress Queen in 1897 at a cost of £130,000.

The decision did not meet with universal approval; the Isle of Man Times of Tuesday January 19, 1897, disregarding sentiment and citing practicality, stated in an editorial that it thought it better to use the name Douglas, as it would be more easily recognised by passengers.

The fire caused major damage to the yard and threatened the cruiser HMS Argonaut at that time on the stocks under construction, as well as various other vessels including the Empress Queen.

The starting and reversing was achieved by a large steam and hydraulic engine constructed on the direct acting principle.

The boilers were of the multitubular return marine type, each having eight corrugated furnaces being constructed entirely of steel to Board of Trade requirements and working on a system of forced draught with fans fitted to supply air.

The dining saloon ahead of the machinery on the lower deck could accommodate 130 second class passengers whose quarters were in the forward part of the vessel.

From both bridges the bow and stern rudders were controlled by means of wheels connected with independent steam steering gears, placed below, on the engine starting platform.

Situated on the main deck was a specified area, allocated for the storage of letters, parcels and specie (bullion, coins and other valuables).

[6] Entering service under Captain Alexander McQueen, Commodore of the Company, she was the first Steam Packet vessel to be fitted with wireless telegraphy, which was installed on 19 August 1903.

[6] Empress Queen was the last paddle steamer ordered to be built for the line, and she was a record breaker for her day.

On 13 September 1897 she made passage from the Rock Lighthouse, New Brighton, to Douglas Head (a distance of 68 nautical miles), in 2 hr.

Following her fitting out, she then made passage to Southampton and two days later was on the first of her duties, taking 1,900 men of a Scottish regiment to Le Havre.

Empress Queen was widely regarded by the authorities as an exceptionally reliable paddle steamer; she had never stopped for weather or engine trouble.

Coxswain John Holbrook injured his hand while fastening a line to the stricken vessel, but nevertheless made four trips between the ship and the shore, rescuing 110 people.