Appeal for funds to return SS Nomadic to Belfast

An international campaign led by the European Nomadic Appeal has been urging investors to aid Belfast City Council in funding the return of a ship from the ill-fated White Star Line back to Belfast.

The SS Nomadic has been described as an "important building block" in the Titanic tourist project, and is currently docked in Le Harve in France where it is due to be auctioned off in Paris on January 26, with a reserve price of 250,000 Euros (approx. £169,000).

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has already secured pledges from private individuals in excess of £25,000, but this is still not enough to cover the cost.

Belfast City Council have estimated that to buy the ship and have it returned to the city, will cost in the region of £750,000, with a further £7 million to restore the ship to its former glory.

Philippe Delaunoy, European Coordinator of the Nomadic Appeal said: "We need corporate sponsorship and we are in negotiations with several high profile corporations to secure additional funding for Nomadic's outright purchase and her transportation back to Belfast. When Nomadic is back in British waters, she will be placed on the historic ships register and will then be entitled to funding from Lottery Heritage and other organisations.

" I cannot stress how important it is to save this little vessel, she is the last of a mighty line built by Harland & Wolff and the last true link to RMS

Titanic."

The ship was built at Harland and Wolff in 1910 and was used to ferry first-class passengers to and from both the Titanic and the Olympic.

SS Nomadic survived service in two world wars and was later used as a restaurant on the Seine in Paris. It is currently sitting semi-derelict in the port of Le Harve.

If returned, the Nomadic will become the centrepiece for the new Titanic Quarter tourist attraction, which is to be dedicated to the memory of the legendary vessel, which sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage to New York.

(EF/SP)