MovieChat Forums > Titanic (1953) Discussion > SS Nomadic - Titanic's Tender

SS Nomadic - Titanic's Tender

posted 18 years ago by beth_anne82
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The SS Nomadic was built in Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard to serve as a tender to the White Star Line’s Olympic class ships. She served in Cherbourg and took 1st and 2nd Class passengers out to both the Olympic and the Titanic. This is the little ship that carried Molly Brown, the Astors and the Duff-Gordons out to the Titanic in April 1912.

Recently she was put up for auction and she was purchased by the DSD in Northern Ireland with the intention to bring her home and restore her. Many of her original features are still in place, the on-board bar, carved panels, staircases and benches and the elegant design reflects that of her much larger “relatives”.

As the last of the White Star Line still afloat she is worthy of a place in history, but it is as tender to the Titanic and Olympic and later Cunard ships that she is best remembered.

To fully restore her will cost money which is why the Nomadic Preservation Society has been set up to raise the needed funds.

For more details or to join the Society please see http://www.savenomadic.com

"Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."

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[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] beth_anne82 18 years ago

As part of the younger generation I'm contractually obliged to say "Oi!" :)

Most of my family along one side went to sea and ships and the sea have always fascinated me since a young child. Unfortunately I'm well aware of the apathy most people have of the past these days which is rather ironic in Northern Ireland where pretty much everything revolves around events 400 yrs ago.

I'm not what you could call heavily invovled with the NPS though I have joined. Basically the posting was to keep some interest alive here as on these boards there are hundreds of people that come here daily. The Nomadic is a part of the Titanic story that still captivaes her hearts and heads of millions. The NPS want to return the Nomadic home as a "living" piece of the story.

Yes the NPS has a huge lot of work ahead of them but for now the Nomadic is saved and if I can help in any small way I will. Maybe no-one will join but I'm hoping some people will at least be interested enough to look and even if one person joins it will help.

"Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."

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[–] TermyUT 18 years ago

the nomadic also brough passengers on the Britannic which was the sister ship of the Olympic and titanic which the Britannic only served for 5 months befor sinking

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[–] beth_anne82 18 years ago

Sorry but no. The Britannic never sailed as a White Star Line vessel.
She was launched on February 26 1914 but after launch all of the fitting out work still has to be done. She was due to enter service in August 1914 but ue to the war effort and the emphasis on building military ships over civil ships work on Britannic was scaled back.

During this time the Olympic was brought back to Belfast and put out of service in the ope that the war would soon be over and she wouldn't be sequestered by the military. In 1915 however both ships where requisitioned Olympic as a troop carrier and Britannic as Hospital Ship.

On December 23rd 1915 Britannic sailed from Belfast on her maiden voyage as HMHS Britannic which she served as for almost a year before striking (most likely) a mine in the Kea Channel (off Greece) and sinking on November 21 1916.

"Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."

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[–] TermyUT 18 years ago

well actually she did sail as a white star line vessel, just not as a passenger vessel. no matter what, she is still a white star line vessel. and im sure the nomadic atleast once brought extra supplies or somthing. its a shame that she only saw about 9 months of service before hitting a mind. she would of made it if the two water tight doors that were damaged closed. only too water tight doors made her sink. its a shame how badly she has ben forgotten, she never got to fullfill her legend as the titanic's sister

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[–] Accord87 18 years ago

i don't think it would have mattered that much even if she hadn't sunk. The Olympic served a long and succesful career and hardly anyone knows anything about her. She is, after all, the only passenger ship to ever sink a u-boat. And the Britannic does hold the title of being the largest ocean liner on the sea floor. But i do agree it is very sad that the Britannic has been so forgotten.
By the way, great job on getting the Nomadic back to its true home, Belfast.
And it's great to see an actual white star officer on these boards.

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[–] beth_anne82 18 years ago

Ahh well I can't be bothered getting the books out to check if she was ever in the sameplace as Nomadic at the same time, it would be nice though if she did have contact with all three of the Olympic class she was made to serve.

"Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."

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[–] beth_anne82 18 years ago

The Nomadic will be arriving home to Belfast on 17th July where she will be berthed in the Abercorn Basin.

For further details see http://www.savenomadic.com

"Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."

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[–] Accord87 18 years ago

oooooweeeeee, it's close...

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[–] beth_anne82 18 years ago

and she's home.

After making a leisurely procession up Belfast Lough yesterday she's currently sitting at Harland and Wolff to have her bottom cleaned of seaweed etc before being brought around to the Abercorn basin on Monday evening for the public to see.

"Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug."

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[–] beth_anne82 18 years ago

For anyone interested you can now view the Nomadic live on the Belfast Webcam at http://www.gotobelfast.com/webcam.htm

Select the Nomadic option in the pull down menu at the bottom of the window to automatically focus in on her and please remember the footage is live so you need to look during UK daylight hours or you won't see her

You can also find out much more about her and what is currently happening at http://www.nomadicpreservationsociety.co.uk/

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