The first thing the officers heard on the bridge of the liner, which was to become a familiar sight in Southampton, was a deep rumble, then the shock waves hit as the terrible power of the earthquake ripped through the port.

It was 1923 and the 21,833-ton Canadian Pacific ship Empress of Australia was alongside the docks in Yokohama when the ground shook and, as the liner's master was later to describe, the earth behaved like the sea.

The ship was to play a vital humanitarian role in the aftermath of the earthquake, providing shelter and life-saving medical treatment to the survivors of the devastation.

Japan felt the full force of nature as, for five days, more than 700 shocks were reported, causing severe damage over an area of roughly 80 miles by 60 miles. Fires raged over the entire city and it was estimated that 250,000 people died and two-and-a-quarter million were injured.

The Empress was the biggest liner in port at the time and was just preparing to leave watched by hundreds of people lining the quayside waving farewell to relatives and friends as the earthquake rocked the city.

Crew on board the ship looked in horror as the wharf, which the Empress had occupied, collapsed and the liner finished up with a tangle of rope around the starboard propeller.

The order was given to lower ladders and ropes so that those in the water could scramble aboard. Altogether 592 Europeans, 705 Chinese and 604 Japanese sought the safety of the Empress.

The ship's master, Captain S Richardson, was to write a graphic account of the earthquake and the effect it had on the local people.

In his report the captain wrote: "A number of severe shocks were felt and then the land rolled in waves six feet to eight feet high, like a succession of fast ocean swells.

"These were plainly visible from the ship's bridge, and the vessel shook all over in a most terrifying manner and also rocked very quickly and violently.''

Parties of passengers, officers and crew members left each day and searched the outlying areas for injured women and children who were brought back to the ship.

"The lower decks and alleyways presented a gruesome and heart-rending sight, being crowded with hundreds of half-naked, badly wounded people covered in blood and dirt, groaning or crying bitterly.''

Captain Robinson was made a CBE and awarded the silver medal of St John of Jerusalem for overseeing the rescue operation.

The Empress began life as the Hamburg Amerika liner Tirpitz, launched at Stett in December 1913. Handed over under the Reparations Agreement after the First World War, the ship was acquired by Canadian Pacific, who at that time were building up their fleet.

At first she operated on the Pacific service, and then was switched to the Canadian route from Southampton.

On a voyage in 1927 she carried the Prince of Wales, Prince George and Prime Minister Baldwin to Canada for celebrations to mark the 60th year of Confederation.

There was a big royal occasion in 1939 when the liner was chartered to take King George and Queen Mary and their party of 60 to Canada for a Royal tour.

The Empress was used for trooping during and after the Second World War before being withdrawn in 1951 and broken up at Inverkeithing.