Empress of Australia was a ferry operated by the Australian National Line. Ordered in 1962 by the Australian National Line and launched by Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company on 18 January 1964, Empress of Australia was the largest passenger ferry built in the world at the time.
From the time of her 16 January 1965 maiden voyage, the ship could carry up to 250 passengers in cabins, 91 cars, 16 trucks, and 160 intermodal containers. The ferry made three runs from Sydney to Tasmania every fortnight until 1972; one each to Hobart, Bell Bay and Burnie. She was modified at the State Dockyard: the installation of 190 reclining seats in the original lounge increased her passenger capacity to 440, and a deck was added at the aft end.
At the time of sinking, she was carrying 516 people, consisting of 337 passengers and 179 crew. A majority of passengers were from Singapore, with smaller numbers from Britain, Australia, India, United States, Indonesia, Germany, Taiwan, and Canada. 193 passengers were rescued by the Japanese ship Marissa, while most others were picked up by the Greek ship Chapai. The collision resulted in 30 deaths, with most attributed to the crew's choice to abandon ship first. At the time of the collision the Royal Pacific was piloted by captain Anastasios Papagiannis.