The SS Nomadic, launched on 25 April 1911 at Belfast's Harland and Wolff shipyards, is a steel-built tender originally designed to transfer passengers, mail, and supplies between shore and the large ocean liners RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic. Measuring 220 feet (67 meters) in length and 37 feet (11 meters) in width, she has a gross registered tonnage of 1,273 tons. Her propulsion system comprised two coal-fired boilers and two compound steam engines, which powered four triple-bladed propellers of 7 feet (2.1 meters) in diameter, enabling a service speed of approximately 12 knots (14 mph). Constructed with steel frames, beams, bulkheads, and riveted hull plating, Nomadic was equipped with four decks featuring passenger lounges, open deck areas, and luxurious first- and second-class accommodations, reflecting the standards of her parent liners. Her interior was ornately decorated, with plasterwork and joinery, luxurious furnishings, porcelain water fountains, and separate bathrooms for different classes, emphasizing her role as a high-quality tender. Nomadic's service history includes her initial role in ferrying passengers for the Titanic’s maiden voyage in April 1912, carrying 274 notable passengers such as John Jacob Astor IV and Benjamin Guggenheim. During World War I and until 1919, she was requisitioned by France, serving as an auxiliary minesweeper and ferrying troops. Post-war, she resumed tender duties until her sale in 1927. She was later renamed Ingenieur Minard and served various roles, including evacuation during WWII and as an accommodation ship in Portsmouth. In her later years, she was converted into a floating restaurant and event vessel in Paris, before being preserved and restored in Belfast, where she is today on display in the Titanic Quarter. Recognized for her maritime heritage, Nomadic is the last surviving vessel designed by Thomas Andrews, and she holds a significant place in maritime history as a relic of the White Star Line’s golden age.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.