She and her running mate SS Traffic ferried passengers, their baggage, mail and ship's supplies to and from large ocean liners moored offshore.

[1][4] Propulsion was provided by two single-ended coal-fired boilers and two compound steam engines, each driving two triple-bladed propellers of 7 feet (2.1 m) in diameter, which gave a service speed of 12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h).

A small area in the aft end of the lower deck was assigned for overspill of third-class passengers from SS Traffic.

As such, she had more luxuries than most tenders of her day, with cushioned benches, tables, porcelain water fountains, sex-specific bathrooms and a buffet bar.

[citation needed] Nomadic arrived in Cherbourg on 3 June 1911 to begin her tendering duties for the White Star Line.

[1] On 10 April 1912 she transported 274 passengers to RMS Titanic for the liner's ill-fated maiden voyage, including New York millionaire John Jacob Astor IV with his new wife Madeleine, Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon and his wife, couturière, Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon, American journalist and United States Army officer Archibald Butt, Denver millionairess Margaret Brown, and mining tycoon Benjamin Guggenheim.

[1][6] During World War I and until 1919, Nomadic was requisitioned by the French government, and she saw service as an auxiliary minesweeper, also ferrying American troops to and from the harbour in Brest (France).

Her name was changed back to Nomadic and she was extensively converted into a floating restaurant and function vessel, and in October 1974 was relocated to the Seine in Paris.

These campaigns were well supported by the public, particularly in Northern Ireland, but were unable to raise sufficient funds to meet Nomadic's reserve price.

The campaigns, however, gained political and governmental support, and on 26 January 2006, the Northern Ireland government Department for Social Development bought the vessel at auction[7] for €250,001 (the reserve price being €250,000).

The vessel was welcomed back by the Department for Social Development Minister, David Hanson MP and the Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Belfast, Councillor Ruth Patterson and a number of well-wishers.

The NCT's stated aim is; "To restore the SS Nomadic and to make her accessible to the public, to ensure she can play a key role in the ongoing celebration of Titanic, ensure a lasting legacy to celebrate our maritime and industrial heritage and as a catalyst for tourism, social and economic development".

[12] Nyanza's owner intended to convert her to diesel power and scrap her steam engines and boilers, so NPS suggested that NCT buy them to install in Nomadic.

This dry dock, itself a piece of maritime heritage, was partly refurbished in a joint partnership between the Belfast Harbour Commission and Titanic Quarter Ltd.

In February 2010, major works commenced with external blasting and priming of the steel hull, preventing further deterioration of the steelwork.

[citation needed] In February 2011, Harland and Wolff were appointed by the NCS to undertake steelwork restoration and repair, rekindling a 100-year link with the ship's original builders.

[citation needed] The ship is still not fully restored, most notably the forward mast and subsequent rigging is still missing, although it is to be installed at a later date.

[17] Nomadic originally had two 20-foot (6.1 m) lifeboats, believed to have the capacity for about 28 people each when fully loaded, to serve up to 1,200 passengers and crew in an emergency.

[18] In 1987, Jean-Charles Arnault made a deal with Vincent to lend him the two lifeboats for Le Musée Maritime Chantereyne at Cherbourg.

[19] To transport the lifeboat back to Belfast by lorry a special cradle was built to support the boat, and it was taken to Petticrew Marine.