SS Nomadic – Titanic's tender back home after a remarkable journey

When visitors come to Belfast, the first stop on their list is often the superb Titanic

Belfast Museum — a shining reminder of our city’s proud shipbuilding past. But just a

few steps away , moored in the Hamilton Dry Dock, sits another star of that same

story: the SS Nomadic.

At Hometown Tours Belfast, we believe there’s no better way to see Belfast than by

exploring the places that shaped our people, our pride, our heritage and our city’s spirit.

Few places do that more beautifully than the SS Nomadic — a living link between

Belfast’s industrial heart and the romance of the age of ocean travel. Our tailored Best of Belfast Driving tour is the perfect way to start your adventure, with a mix of driving and walking to suit your needs.

Built in Belfast for the World

The SS Nomadic was launched in 1911, built by the legendary Harland & Wolff —

the same shuipbuilders that built all White Star Line ships including the Titanic herself.

Nomadic was a tender ship, designed to ferry first and second class passengers,

from the port at Cherbourg, France, out to the great liners that were too large to

dock.

Interior of restored Nomadic saloon

She might have been smaller, but she was crafted with all the grace and elegance of

the grand ocean liners she served. Polished oak, brass fixtures, and cushioned seats

gave her a touch of luxury rarely seen on a tender.

When the Titanic anchored off Cherbourg on 10 April 1912, it was SS Nomadic that

carried her first and second-class passengers out to meet her. Among them

were Colonel John Jacob Astor IV, the richest man aboard Titanic (whose family

gave it’s name to the Waldorf Astoria hotel) and his young, pregnant wife Madeleine.

Standing on Nomadic’s deck today, it’s easy to imagine that moment: the soft hum of

engines, and the sense of wonder as the elegant couple approached the largest ship

in the world. Their story — one of love, loss, and legend — makes Nomadic’s

connection to Titanic even more profound.

A Century of Adventure

Nomadic In Paris

While Titanic’s story ended tragically, Nomadic’s journey continued for more than a century. On our Best of Belfast Driving Tour we chart that varied existence. She served bravely during two world wars, transporting troops and supplies. In the post-war years, she tendered to the large cruisers such as the Queen Mary and even transformed into a floating restaurant on the River Seine below the Eiffel Tower, entertaining guests rather than ferrying them.

She came close to being scrapped three times and sat lingering in a breakers yard in Le Havre from 2003. In 2006, after almost 95 years away, the SS Nomadic was brought back to Belfast afloat a submersible barge. The rescue and restoration became a true labour of love managed by the Nomadic Charitable Trust — thousands of hours of craftsmanship,

paint, and pride went into bringing her back to life. Now fully restored, she sits proudly beside Titanic Belfast, just yards from where she was built in 1911.

One of her original wooden lifeboats has been lovingly restored and was put on show by the Maritime Belfast Trust on show to the public at the 2025 Belfast Maritime Festival.

Step Aboard Living History

Stepping aboard SS Nomadic is like walking through time. The creak of her decks, the scent of polished wood, and the glint of brass all tell stories of another age. You’ll find beautifully restored first-class saloons, interpretive displays, and original shipyard craftsmanship everywhere you look. Many features are the same as the Olympic class ships. If the Titanic was the most luxurious ship on the ocean the time spent on Nomadic was expected to have the same level of comfort.

Visitors can stand exactly where Titanic’s passengers once stood, including the

Astors, Molly Brown, and Benjamin Guggenheim. You’ll learn not only about the

grandeur of ocean travel but also about the shipbuilders of Belfast — ordinary men

whose extraordinary skills built ships that sailed the world.

Indeed the Nomadic is back in the very dock where she would have had her rudder

and propellor fitted in early summer 1911. Guests on our Titanic & Maritime Walking Tour will find Nomadic sitting beside the original caisson gate, a rusty structure dating from 1867 which blocked the water from entering the dry dock. A remarkable piece of maritime heritage of Belfast.

Docks along the Maritime Mile.

31st May 1911 was a remarkable day at Harland & Wolff in Belfast. The two

significant developments where the launch of Titanic, the handing over of Olympic to

White Star Line. Nomadic left Belfast for France in the same week.

Here at Hometown Tours Belfast, our local tour guides love sharing those personal

touches: tales of shipyard families, the sounds of the rivet hammers, and the fierce

pride that filled the air whenever a new vessel was launched. It’s that human

connection — between people, place, and history — that makes our Best of Belfast Driving Tour (with walking stop!) so unforgettable.

Experience the Best of Belfast Driving Tour

Exploring Titanic Quarter with Hometown Tours Belfast is more than just sightseeing.

Our tours are designed to help you see Belfast like a local, through the eyes of those who live and breathe its history.

Along with many of Belfast's famous sights, we take you along the Maritime Mile, through the old Harland & Wolff drawing offices, and down to the slipways where men once toiled winter and summer. You’ll hear about the triumphs, the tragedies, and the remarkable comeback stories — like Nomadic’s — that define this city.

So come aboard, and see Belfast like a local, and book your Best of Belfast Driving Tour here!

photo credit @ National Museum of Northern Ireland