The SS Nomadic, a steamship of the White Star Line was launched on 25 April 1911 in Belfast. She was built as an auxiliary ship for the luxury liners RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic and was the shipping company’s last ship in existence. Together with her sister SS Traffic, they were used as supply ships, transporting passengers and cargo from the port of Cherbourg to the luxurious Olympic and Titanic moored nearby at sea.

The Nomadic was equipped with more luxurious interiors matching first and second class tickets. Many people who made history after the destruction of the Titanic walked its decks, including Molly Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Surf-Gordon, and Benjamin Guggenheim, who chose to die a gentleman, in his finest clothes.

During World War I, the Nomadic was used to transport American troops in Brest. In 1927 it was sold to the Compagnie Cherbourghoise de Transbordement and then in 1934 to the Société Cherbourghoise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage.

On 26 January 2006, the SS Nomadic was auctioned to the Government of Northern Ireland, specifically the Department for Cultural Development. So the SS Nomadic left Le Havre to finally return to her native home in Belfast in June 2006 after many decades.

At the end of 2008, the ship was moved to Barnett’s Dock for maintenance. In February 2011, Harland & Wolff was commissioned to carry out a renovation following the original condition as it was 100 years ago. This was a £2,000,000 contract and included the re-creation of the missing bridge, repairs and repainting of the hull in the original White Star Line colours. These works were completed in February 2012.