SS Nomadic, Belfast Harbour

Consarc Conservation, working as part of the design team for the Department for Social Development, led the conservation, repair, and refurbishment of two significant pieces of maritime heritage: the SS Nomadic and the Hamilton Graving Dock. The SS Nomadic, the last surviving White Star Line vessel and tender to the RMS Titanic, was restored to its 1911 appearance. Craftspeople rebuilt lost elements, including the Flying Bridge Deck, funnel, and ventilators, and carefully repaired original timber panelling, decorative plasterwork, and historic fittings. Modern services were discreetly incorporated to provide full visitor accessibility while preserving the ship’s authenticity.

The Hamilton Dock, a scheduled monument and the oldest surviving shipbuilding feature on Queen’s Island, was restored along with the adjacent Pump House. The works removed intrusive wartime alterations, reinstated the site’s original character, and created an appropriate setting for the SS Nomadic. Following internationally recognised conservation principles, the £7 million project retained original materials wherever possible and employed specialist trades to the highest standard. The restored site now offers a distinctive heritage attraction that highlights Belfast’s shipbuilding history and contributes to the Titanic Quarter’s cultural offer.