Buying the Nomadic - Urban Regeneration

Titanic is a global brand born in Belfast at Harland & Wolff; the world’s leading shipyard of its day. Marketing global brands does much to increase the attractiveness of a City to worldwide visitors. DSD business includes the regeneration of Belfast, with tourism one of our key regeneration themes. There are plans for a world class Titanic Signature project hopefully to be open on time to meet the anticipated high level of world-wide interest for the centenary of the Titanic tragedy in 2012. A restored Nomadic has the potential to be a significant attraction for visitors drawn by the Titanic legend.

With her auction scheduled for 26 January, it was important to maintain confidentiality around the Department’s interest to prevent fueling other bids. After desk research, Ronan Corrigan and I went to Le Havre on 16 January to inspect her.

Stepping aboard Nomadic I was immediately struck by the sense of period which remains despite its rundown condition and adaptations over the years. Last summer I was in Nova Scotia and the Hudson River Valley and heard stories of the wealthy Americans who had gone down with Titanic. As I stood where they had been, I remembered their stories. Visualizing them boarding Nomadic in Cherbourg, en-route to their icy deaths with the other 1500 souls lost that night beneath the North Atlantic, I felt a shiver down my spine. It seems the romance and mystery of Titanic still remains aboard Nomadic for those who seek it!

The high calibre of craftsmanship is still apparent in the interior. This harks back to our maritime and industrial heritage when Belfast was the benchmark for world class ship building industry. This was a short and fascinating trip for Ronan and me. One we shall never forget.

Back in the office with 8 days to go before the auction, we immersed ourselves in the work needed to buy her. Reading survey reports; lining up a French solicitor to bid at the auction; preparing the business case; identifying funding and finally the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) clearance for Minister to approve her acquisition. This required all-hands-on-deck in time for the auction. There was a risk that any delay would result in Nomadic being lost to the breakers yard. Fortunately that did not happen. Ronan and I are indebted to colleagues in Finance, Planning and Governance, Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and DFP for their amazing effort in completing everything in time. And also to Jenny McGuigan, for playing her part on auction day.

And the future? Arrangements are underway to bring Nomadic home to Belfast. DSD is setting up a charitable trust to coordinate fundraising and oversee her restoration. The Titanic Signature Project holds the prospect of a fitting centre piece for a regenerated quarter for Belfast dedicated to Titanic, the world's most famous ship. DSD hopes that Nomadic will contribute to building the success of the Project and harness for the City the enormous tourism potential in the Titanic brand. Other attractions will be the slipway where Titanic was built, the drawing offices where the blueprints were drawn and the Thompson Dock and pump house where she was fitted out. Given the enormous goodwill that exists there is a real chance that Nomadic will have a happy ending, bringing benefits to Belfast and enjoyment to everyone who visits her, including the worldwide community of Titanic followers and enthusiasts, as the living embodiment of the Titanic story.