Belfast shipyard Harland and Wolff, most famous for its construction of the RMS Titanic, is rekindling its ties to the ill-fated ocean liner with a $3 million project to restore the Nomadic, the ferry that transported passengers for the Titanics maiden voyage.
The European Union and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board awarded the money to the shipyard for the restoration of the steelwork and superstructure of the historic ship, which was made by Harland and Wolff in 1911. In addition to work on the frame, the interior will also be restored to its original luxury décor.
Specifically built to serve ocean liners such as the Titanic, the Nomadic was used to transport first and second class passengers from the French port of Cherbourg to the ship. On the 10th of April 1912, Nomadic set sail with 142 passengers for the Titanic including famous passengers such as the unsinkable Molly Brown and John Jacob Aster.
After the Titanic, the Nomadic served 95 years in every position from warship to floating restaurant in France. The ship finally made its way back to its birthplace in Belfast in 2006, where it has been awaiting repairs.
As the last surviving White Star Line vessel, the Nomadic will play a big role in next years festivities for the 100th anniversary of the sinking. Harland and Wolff is planning to reopen the ship as a museum to explain the rich maritime and industrial history of the shipyard and travel during that period. The project is slated to start immediately and expected to be done by then end of July.
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