Departure: February 27th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by W. Davison, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on February 27th, 1919. This was the first mercantile sailing of the ship after having completed wartime duties the previous month.
The ship carried a full passenger list that included approximately 800 Steerage passengers.
No other passenger information is available for this crossing.
Arrival: April 14th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by Captain A. W. Davison, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on April 15th, 1919. The ship reported a pleasant and smooth crossing from Yokohama.
A full list of Cabin passengers and 600 steerage passengers were reported.
Passengers included a party led by Colonel J. S. Dennis, of the Canadian Economic Commission to Siberia consisting of eight officers and a small contingent of soldiers. The military personnel were returning from garrison duty at Vladivostok.
Another party of passengers consisted of foreign employees of the Nobel Explosive Works at Hiratsuka who were returning to England.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on April 15th, 1919.
| Sir Conyngham Greene | British Ambassador at Tokyo returning to England. |
| Lady Lily Greene | En route to England from Tokyo. |
| Colonel J. S. Dennis | En route from Vladivostok to Canada |
| V. E. Francke | Former British Vice-Consul at Vladivostok returning to England. |
| D. C. Rea | Of the Royal Bank of Canada returning to Canada from Vladivostok. |
| John K. Davis | Former U. S. Consul at Antung returning to America, |
| E. R. Wilkinson and family. | En route to England from Yokohama |
| Major E. W. Frazar | Treasurer of the Siberian Commission of the American Red Cross en route to Washington. |
| E. Tawney | Representative of the American Treasury at Yokohama en route to the United States |
| C. J. Davidson | British Vice-Consul at Yokohama en route to England. |
| T. C. Blue | Associated with Bagnall & Hilles Co., returning to the United States. |
Departure: May 2nd 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. W. Davison, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on May 2nd, 1919.
Travelling to China on this voyage was Mrs. Lee Mong Kow of Victoria. Mrs. Lee boarded the ship at Victoria with her son and daughter. Her daughter, Lee Yut Wah was travelling to Peking to be married. Her son, Lee Yock Choy was travelling to Peking to attend college.
No other information for this voyage is available.
Arrival: June 29th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by Captain A. W. Davison, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on June 29th, 1919. The ship is reported to have carried 1,600 bags of mail, nearly double the expected consignment.
Labour problems were prevalent on the waterfront and volunteer longshoremen are reported to have unloaded the ship at Victoria.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on June 29th, 1919.
| Sir Charles Crewe | A South African statesman who severed as Brigadier General in the campaign in East Africa during the First World War. |
| Sir Everard Fraser | British Consul-General at Shanghai. |
| B. Guggenheim |
Departure: July 11th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. W. Davison, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on July 11th, 1919.
The ship carried a full cargo and 900 passengers with 300 First Class, 100 Second Class, 75 Third Class and 400 Steerage.
At Hong Kong Captain Davison relinquished command of the EMPRESS OF ASIA to Captain A. J. Hailey. Captain Davison was promoted to Marine Superintendent for Canadian Pacific at Hong Kong. Captain Hailey had previously commanded the MONTEAGLE.
Note of Interest:
While leaving Vancouver harbour the EMPRESS OF ASIA struck a rock. The ship continued to Victoria where the ship was met by the salvage steamer ALASKAN. A diver inspected the hull and determined that although a few plates were dented, it was possible for the ship to continue.
No passenger information is available for this crossing.
Arrival: August 25th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. J. Hailey, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on August 25th, 1919. A full passenger list was reported with 53 Saloon and 125 steerage passengers disembarking at Victoria.
Cargo of 5,000 tons was reported including a large shipment of raw silk valued at over $10,000,000.00. A special train awaited the arrival of the ship to expedite the silk from Vancouver.
No passenger information is available for this crossing.
Departure: September 4th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. J. Hailey, began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on September 4th, 1919. This was Captain Hailey’s first outward voyage as Master of the EMPRESS OF ASIA.
The ship carried a heavy general cargo and a full passenger list.
On this voyage George Winterburn of Victoria joined the crew as Junior Engineer.
No passenger information is available for this crossing.
Arrival: October 20th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by Captain A. J. Hailey, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on October 20th, 1919. Cargo consisted of 30 carloads of silk and 2,000 tons of general cargo. The ship carried a large passenger list comprising 327 First Class, 73 Second Class, and 502 Steerage passengers. Two of the passengers were Japanese delegates to the Labor Conference at Washington D.C.
On the voyage home the ship did not call at Shanghai because of cholera alert at that city.
The EMPRESS OF ASIA while in the Far East struck and demolished a Chinese junk in a nighttime collision. The ship rescued the four occupants of the junk.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Vancouver on October 20th, 1919.
| Sir Charles Elliott | British Ambassador to Japan returning to London. |
Departure: October 30th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on October 30th, 1919.
Two thousand members of the Chinese Labour Battalions were on board as passengers. These individuals were returning to China from wartime service in France via the Pacific Ocean.
The ship also carried a full passenger list and it was necessary to use the gymnasium for extra berths to accommodate passengers.
A large group of missionaries were aboard on this voyage and farewell gatherings were held at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, First Baptist Church and the Wesley Methodist Church in Vancouver.
Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on October 30th, 1919 at Vancouver and Victoria.
| A. H. Wiggin | Chairman of the Chase national Bank of New York. |
| G. L. Stone | Of Haydon & Stone of New York. |
| E. B. Bruce | President of the Pacific Development Company of New York. |
| Hon. Hsu En Yuen | President of the North China Banking Corporation. |
| Dr. John Ferguson | Advisor to the President of China. |
| Sir George Bury | Of the Whalen Pulp and Paper Company on a business trip to the Orient. |
| Dr. and Mrs. Waterbury | Of New York. |
| Mrs. H. R. Drummond-Hay | Of Winnipeg. |
| W. M. Harrison | Sales Manager of the Whalen Pulp and Paper Company. |
| Reverend J. A. Walker | En route to China on missionary assignment. |
| Miss E. A. R. Wilson | A teacher en route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss M. E. Batstone | A nurse en route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| F. E. L. Abrey | En route to West China to construct buildings in Szechwan province as part of missionary activity. |
| Miss I. K. McIntosh | A nurse en route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Reverend Dr. Bloomfield | Returning to India on missionary assignment. |
| Dr. Kline | Returning to India East on missionary assignment. |
| Dr. C. B. Kelly | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Dr. T. H. Williams | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss K. R. Ross | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss E. E. Dale | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Reverend R. E. S Taylor | Boarded at Victoria, en route to West China on missionary assignment. |
| Reverend I. C. Archibald | Returning to India on missionary assignment. |
| Reverend R. C. Benson | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Dr. E. G. Smith | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Reverend G. P. Berss | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Dr. Eaton | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Ellen Priest | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss A. C. Murray | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss Eaton | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss Blackadar | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss Machum | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss Mathieson | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss Day | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
| Miss Brothers | En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. En route to the Far East on missionary assignment. |
Arrival: December 15th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA, commanded by A. J. Hailey, concluded a Pacific crossing upon reaching Vancouver on December 15th, 1919. Heavy weather was encountered during most of the trip across the Pacific.
The ship discharged 2,000 bags of America bound mail at Victoria.
Captain C. J. O’Brien and the American crew of the TJIKEMBANG were passengers on this voyage, travelling home to the United States.
Notable passengers aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA arriving at Victoria and Vancouver on December 15th, 1919.
| Captain C. J. O’Brien | Former Commander of the TJIKEMBANG en route to the United States. |
| Alexander Sklarevaki | Noted Russian pianist en route to the East Coast. |
| Sir George H. Bury | Former Vice President of the Canadian Pacific Railways, returning from a business trip to Japan |
| Prince Michel Cantacuzene | Member of the Russian aristocracy travelling to Washington, D.C. |
| Dr. William B. Schell | Associate Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions on a tour of the Far East |
| Dr. D. M. Gandier | Involved in a Prohibition campaign in Japan. |
Departure: December 25th 1919
The EMPRESS OF ASIA began a Pacific crossing upon sailing from Vancouver on Christmas Day, December 25th, 1919.
Two thousand members of the Chinese Labour Battalions were on board as passengers. These individuals were returning to China from wartime service in Europe via the Pacific Ocean.
On December 24th, 1919, prior to embarkation, 1200 members of the Chinese Labour Battalions paraded on Hastings Street in Vancouver.
The ship also carried a delegation of diplomats from China who were returning home from the Peace Conference in Europe.
The ship reported 310 First Class, 55 Second Class, 50 Third Class and 700 Steerage passengers.
Cargo included 240,000 pounds of silver, in the form of specie and ingots, in transit to China.
Notable passengers embarking aboard EMPRESS OF ASIA on December 25th, 1919 at Vancouver and Victoria.
| Count Eric Berg | Of Christiania, Norway on a world tour. |
| Rear-Admiral K. C. B. Morgan | Of the United States Navy en route to the Philippines. |
| H. Bissiker | Travelling to Hong Kong. |
| A. Brand | |
| S. J. Kerr | |
| E. W. McLean | |
| G. Reifel | |
| Mrs. Reifel | |
| Major P. F. Scharschmidt | |
| Mr. and Mrs. J. Fyfe Smith | |
| D. Sune |