 SS Nomadic as she appeared in 2000, docked on the Seine in Paris. |
|
| Career (France) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | SS Nomadic |
| Operator: | White Star Line |
| Builder: | Harland and Wolff Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Laid down: | 22 December 1910 |
| Launched: | 25 April 1911 |
| Acquired: | 27 May 1911 |
| Maiden voyage: | 31 May 1911 |
| Status: | Laid up. Floating museum. Queens Quay, Odyssey Pavilion, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Notes: | Sea trials 16 May 1911 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 1273 GT |
| Length: | 220 ft |
| Beam: | 37 ft |
| Draft: | 12.5 ft |
| Propulsion: | 2 double expansion engines powering 2 triple blade screws. |
| Speed: | 12 knots |
SS Nomadic is a steamship of the White Star Line, launched on 25 April 1911 in Belfast. 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.
Contents |
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 the 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 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 White Star (the two companies merged in 1934) 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 Seine in Paris, where she remained docked and semi-derelict after the closure of the restaurant, until she was moved to the port of Le Havre in 2003.
Preservation of Nomadic
A public appeal for donations to return Nomadic to the Harland and Wolff shipyard for restoration was organised by Belfast Industrial Heritage (BIH), a non-profit organisation in Northern 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.[1] 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 2006. 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 had been contracted from Anchor Marine Transportation Limited.[2] 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 has been set up[3]. Now that the vessel is on the United Kingdom's National Register of Historic Vessels[4], the project should 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.[5]
Location
During the summer months, SS Nomadic is moored at Queen's Quay just outside the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. On board is an informative exhibition that will change periodically as well as a few shops. During the winter SS Nomadic is closed for restoration work.[6]
References
- ^ http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/urcdg-urban_regeneration/nomadic/dsdin_buying_the_nomadic.htm
- ^ http://www.amtbarges.com/
- ^ http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/news_items/hanson_announces_members_of_nomadic_trust.htm
- ^ http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/news_items/nomadic-trust-says-thanks.htm
- ^ http://www.nomadicpreservationsociety.co.uk/
- ^ http://www.nomadicpreservationsociety.co.uk/news.asp?h=1&p=43
External links
- SS Nomadic Forum, Run by The Nomadic Preservation Society
- Nomadic Preservation Society
- Save the SS Nomadic Appeal
- SS Nomadic History
- Maritime Matters - Nomadic
- National Register of Historic Vessels
- BBC News - "Titanic link ship set for Belfast"
- Anchor Marine Transportation Limited
- Pictures of the Nomadic
- Department for Social Development
- Nomadic in 2000 - photo from 2000 with brief description
- Nomadic Home at Atlantic Liners
- French Titanic Society - Association Française du Titanic
- [1] - The French Book by P. Melia & F. Vanhoutte
