More to see for visitors to SS Nomadic - 14 August 2007
Visitors to the SS Nomadic will now get to view a new attraction onboard the ship.
Following months of preparation by volunteers and the Nomadic’s maintenance crew, the Third Class Passenger Area is now ready for public for viewing.
Welcoming the news, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie commented: “Much preparation and work has gone into the refurbishment of this third class area and I would like to pay tribute to the volunteers who have undertaken this task. This is a great milestone in the ongoing refurbishment of Titanic’s little sister.”
SS Nomadic, the ship built alongside Titanic in Belfast, was specifically designed to carry first and second class passengers to Titanic. However, some basic provision was made for a small number of third class passengers. In stark contrast to the splendour of first class, with its beautiful carved wood panelling and intricate wrought-iron decorated doors, this small lounge area has just bare metal plates and rivets – some of which still bear the hammer marks of workers at Harland & Wolff shipyard even after 96 years.
SS Nomadic has already welcomed well over 13,000 visitors since opening at Easter. David Scott Beddard, Project Manager for The SS Nomadic Charitable Trust added: “It has taken hundreds of man-hours by volunteers and the ship’s small maintenance & technical crew to prepare the area for a public with an insatiable appetite for anything that has a link to the most famous ship in history, RMS Titanic. I would encourage anyone to come to Queen’s Quay, beside the Odyssey and take in the ‘Titanic Experience’. You won’t be disappointed.”
Notes to Editors:
- The tender ship, SS NOMADIC was built by Harland and Wolff (yard number 422). She was launched on 25 April, 1911 and delivered to the White Star Line on 27 May.
- On the 10 April, 1912 Nomadic sailed out from port with 142 first class and 30 second class passengers to meet Titanic on her maiden voyage. Onboard her that evening were many of the most famous passengers. Among her compliment that night were Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon, Colonel John Jacob Astor and his wife Madeline, Benjamin Guggenheim and Molly Brown. This was the Nomadic’s last delivery to Titanic before her maiden voyage sinking, five days later, which was to shock the world.
- Nomadic has a gross tonnage of 1,273, and is 233 feet long. On 26 January 2006, the Department for Social Development purchased the vessel at auction for €250,001 (£171,320).
- The Nomadic returned to Belfast in the summer of 2006 and her restoration is being supervised by a Charitable Trust set up by the Department to fundraise and oversee the restoration project. Nomadic was partially opened to the public at Queens Quay at Easter 2007 and has had initial success as a visitor attraction.
- Media enquiries to DSD Information Office 028 9082 9078. Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
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