SS Nomadic (1911)

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SS Nomadic is a steamship of the White Star Line, launched on 25 April 1911. She was built as a tender to the liners RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic, and is the last remaining vessel built for the White Star Line still afloat.

[edit] History

The keel of Nomadic was laid down in the Harland and Wolff shipyards, Belfast in 1910 (yard number 422). She was launched on 25 April 1911 and delivered to the White Star Line on 27 May. The ship was 67 meters (220 feet) long and 11.3 meters (37 feet) wide, with a gross tonnage of 1,273 tons. She had a two three-bladed screws, propelling her to a maximum speed of 12 knots.

With her sister ship SS Traffic, Nomadic was used as a tender for Titanic and Olympic at Cherbourg in France. Nomadic was fitted with a luxurious interior and was hence used for the first and second class passengers, whilst Traffic served the third class travellers.

During World War I Nomadic saw service in carrying American troops at Brest (France).

In 1927, she was sold to Compagnie Cherbourghoise de Transbordement and then sold again to the Société Cherbourghoise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage in 1934. Then under the name Ingenieur Minard, she again served as troop ship in World War II.

After the war she continued tendering Cunard (which had since acquired White Star Line) ships until November 1968. She then served RMS Queen Elizabeth for the last time.

In 1974, Nomadic was bought by a private individual and converted into a restaurant on the River Seine in Paris, where it remained docked and semi-derelict after the closure of the restaurant, until it was moved to the port of Le Havre in 2003.

[edit] Preservation of Nomadic

A public appeal for donations to return Nomadic to the Harland and Wolff shipyard for restoration was organized by Belfast Industrial Heritage (BIH), a non-profit organization in Ireland.

On 26 January 2006, SS Nomadic was purchased at auction in Paris by the Department for Social Development, part of the Northern Ireland Office, an arm of the United Kingdom government responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. She cost £171,320 (the reserve price being £165,000).

SS Nomadic left Le Havre to return to Belfast on 12 July, and arrived back close to where she was built on 18 July. The vessel was welcomed back by the Social Development Minister David Hanson MP and the Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Belfast, Councillor Ruth Patterson and a number of well wishers. The "Nomadic" arrived "piggy backed" on a marine transportation barge, which has been contracted from Anchor Marine Transportation Limited.[1]

A study by Belfast City Council has estimated the cost of restoring Nomadic at £7 million. Belfast Harbour Commissioners have agreed to provide a temporary berth for the ship and a charitable trust to co-ordinate fundraising for the restoration will be set up. Once the vessel is on the UK's National Register of Historic Vessels, the project will qualify for a National Lottery grant application, which should substantially enhance existing funds of £60,000 from a public appeal and £100,000 from Belfast City Council.

The Nomadic Appeal Public Website has now founded the Nomadic Preservation Society, which is accepting memberships with a number of features. The details of this are available on their website.

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