Belfast Titanic Society AGM

                                               12th May 2008, on board Nomadic.

                                                                                    Pictures courtesy of Society member, Joe Cohen.

Tina Lynch, treasurer of the Nomadic Trust, updated members about Nomadic.

"Nomadic Charitable Trust was created in October 2006 with the aim of fundraising to restore the ship with a focus on maximising economic, social & regeneration impact.

In 2007 Nomadic opened to the public to gauge public interest.  High levels of satisfaction were recorded with over 19,000 visitors in the period April – October 2007.  Deloitte were appointed to undertake an economic appraisal to assess various options of the ship.  The agreed option was a static floating attraction based in Belfast with the likely cost estimated to be in the region of £5m.  In this year funding was provided by Department of Social Development, Belfast Harbour Commissioners and Belfast City Council.  Fundraising consultants, PR consultants and project managers were also appointed in 2007.

Key highlights from 2008 include release of the website, Ulster Garden Villages pledge £200,000, Belfast City Council pledge another £100,000, DSD provides £70,000 and National Historic Ships pledge £2,000.  The Institute of Directors have chosen Nomadic Charitable Trust as their nominated charity for the year and the Merchant Hotel held a fundraising dinner for Nomadic in April 2008.

Marine engineers again carried out a full assessment of the ship in April 2008 and have provided a positive update on the condition of the ship, in particular hull integrity.  There is currently no requirement to dry dock the ship and this will be kept under review. It is currently the aim of the Trust to open the ship for the Maritime festival in June of this year and work is currently underway to prepare for this."

Nomadic caretaker Rupert Keyzar then briefed our members of the progress of Nomadic so far. He was also kind enough to give the members a guided tour of this historic ship.

                                 Rupert Keyzar' presentation.                                                                          The First Class reception area.

          President, John Andrews and member, Joe Cohen.                                          Society members admiring the restoration so far.

                  Restoration in the bow of Nomadic.                                                                 Tina Lynch from the Nomadic Trust.