The vessel was powered by two triple expansion steam engines of 170 NHP (1,650 IHP) driving twin screw propellers.

[2] Four hours later, the crew of a Norwegian ship, the Fredheim en route from Honfleur, Manche, France to Hull,[3] saw debris in the water and heard cries.

[4] A Royal Navy cruiser, HMS Blake recovered a body wearing a lifebelt marked Yarmouth, and sighted wreckage not too far from the Outer Gabbard Lightship at 52°00′06″N 2°07′00″E / 52.00167°N 2.11667°E / 52.00167; 2.11667,[2] and 20 nautical miles (37 km) east of Harwich.

[3] A Board of Trade inquiry into the loss of the Yarmouth was held at the Caxton Hall, Westminster, London in February and March 1909.

The court reported its findings on 4 March 1909 and concluded that the loss of the Yarmouth be attributed to carrying deck cargo (the crated meat on the poop and forecastle) which caused the ship to list to starboard and eventually causing the ship to capsize before the crew could attempt to save themselves.

As a result of the loss of the Yarmouth the Great Eastern Railway discontinued the practice of carrying deck cargoes on all its vessels.