26th June 2008
SS NOMADIC TO RETURN TO ‘BIRTHPLACE’
Belfast Port & Titanic Quarter to Refurbish Dry Dock
We are delighted that Nomadic
has now got a permanent home, thanks to TQL & BHC. It is only fitting that
she be restored in the area where she was built ... ... the old H&W
shipyard... what other city could offer that?
The Society is fully behind the Nomadic Trust in its efforts to restore this unique piece of Titanic & Belfast's maritime history. Let today been seen as the start of next phase on a very important voyage ... that of Nomadic to her former glory.
SS Nomadic, the Titanic’s tender ship, is set to return to the dry dock which played a part in her construction in 1911. The 141 year old Hamilton Graving Dock, which is now part of Titanic Quarter, is being brought back to life thanks to a £350,000 refurbishment project led by the Port of Belfast and Titanic Quarter Ltd.
Hamilton Graving Dock, located at Abercorn Basin behind the Odyssey, hasn’t been used commercially in over 15 years. The work will focus on providing a temporary new dock gate which will hold back up to 12ft of sea water. It’s expected that the Nomadic will return ’home’ before the end of the year.
Roy Adair, CEO of the Port of Belfast, said:
“The 450 ft long Hamilton Graving Dock was originally constructed by the Port in 1867 – the first dry dock to be built on the County Down side of the Port and a major stimulus for the shipbuilding boom which was to define Belfast.
“It’s very fitting therefore that the Port is helping to refurbish the dock to celebrate both the Nomadic’s and Belfast’s Titanic heritage as part of our co-promotion of Titanic Quarter.”
Mike Smith, Titanic Quarter’s CEO added:
“Located within sight of the first residential development at Titanic Quarter, the arrival of SS Nomadic will mark an important landmark in the Port’s and our ambition to ensure that Titanic Quarter reflects the maritime character of Queen’s Island. “Work is also planned to restore the Titanic’s Drawing Office, create a new public space centred on the Titanic’s slipway and, of course, the Titanic Signature Project. Together with the Nomadic, these developments will help make Belfast the No.1 Titanic attraction in the world.”
Denis Rooney, Chairman of the SS Nomadic Charitable Trust, which is responsible for restoring the vessel, believes that Nomadic’s permanent, new berth at Hamilton Dock will provide clarity and focus to the project:
“The Trust is delighted to reach the next milestone in Nomadic’s restoration and bring to a close the long debate and speculation about her future home. “The Hamilton Dock will provide a permanent base for Nomadic, both for restoration work to be carried out and further down the line, as a location for visitors to board her. Securing the dock is great news that will allow the Trust to proceed with major funding applications. On behalf of the Trust, I’d like to sincerely thank the Port of Belfast and Titanic Quarter for their generous support.”
At present the Nomadic is currently berthed at Barnett Dock within an operational area of the Port. While it will not be possible to open her to the public this year, it is believed that the move to Hamilton Graving Dock will significantly boost the programme of work on the ship and facilitate her re-opening at some stage next year.
The Department for Social Development, which retains ownership of the vessel, is pleased that the Trust is making sufficient progress to remain on target to meet its 2011 completion objective.
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie explains:
“Significant progress has been made since Nomadic moved to Barnett Dock last winter – fundraising and project management teams have been appointed, marine engineer assessments have been conducted, funding applications have been submitted and the Trust is currently procuring consultants to conduct a conservation management plan. The consideration of suitable berths has also been a priority and I’m delighted that this has resulted in a permanent home at Hamilton Dock.”
The Hamilton Graving Dock was built in 1867 along with 12-acres of sheltered water at Abercorn Basin. As well as the Nomadic, which was used for the Titanic’s 1st & 2nd Class passengers, another Titanic tender, the less luxurious SS Traffic, used by 3rd Class passengers, is also believed to have been completed in the dock. The Hamilton Dock was still operational in the early 1990s when it was used for ship repair.