Video: 'Disasters of the Century | The Empress of Ireland'

(Friday, May 29, 1914, 1:56 a.m. EST) — The Canadian ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland sank early this morning in the St. Lawrence River in eastern Quebec after colliding with the much smaller Norwegian cargo ship SS Storstad, which sustained only minor damage.

Of the 1,477 people on board Empress, 1,012 died, making it the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Canadian history.

Video: 'Horrific Tragedy: The Sinking of RMS Empress of Ireland'

Although the British-built ship was equipped with watertight compartments and, in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster two years earlier, carried more than enough lifeboats for all aboard, she foundered in only 14 minutes.

The Storstad suffered only minor damage.

Video: 'Empress of Ireland Sinks in REAL TIME | 14 Minutes of Horror'

A Commission of Inquiry found that First Officer Alfred Toftenes of the Storstad was to blame for changing course and not calling Captain Thomas Andersen to the bridge.

However, a Norwegian Commission of Inquiry absolved Andersen and Toftenes of any responsibility and blamed Empress Captain Henry Kendall for changing course and then stopping his ship.

The Commission of Inquiry also suggested that in foggy weather, all watertight doors and port holes below the top of the watertight bulkheads should be closed and kept closed until the fog has completely cleared.