SS Nomadic Ready For Public Viewing

Following months of preparation by volunteers and the SS Nomadic's maintenance crew, the Third Class Passenger Area is now ready for public viewing.

Welcoming the news, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said: "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 the Titanic in Belfast, was specifically designed to ferry first and second-class passengers to the 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 and 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 and 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."

The SS Nomadic was built by Harland and Wolff and was launched on 25 April 1911 and delivered to the White Star Line on 27 May.

(SB/SP)