As reported in the newspapers at the time, there was much confusion as to the cause of the collision with both parties claiming the other was at fault. As was noted at the subsequent inquiry, "If the testimony of both captains were to be believed, the collision happened as both vessels were stationary with their engines stopped". The witnesses from "Storstad" said they were approaching so as to pass red to red (port to port) while those from "Empress of Ireland" said they were approaching so as to pass green to green (starboard to starboard), but "the stories are irreconcilable".