Nomadic leaves city centre berth

The SS Nomadic has attracted large numbers of visitors

The SS Nomadic, the ship which ferried passengers to the Titanic, is to leave its berth close to Belfast city centre.

The tender will be removed on Wednesday from Queen's Quay to Barnett's Dock for maintenance ahead of her planned move to dry dock before the end of the year.

Nomadic became a familiar sight since opening to the public at Easter and has attracted more than 18,000 visitors.

It will close for restoration work this winter but will re-open as a visitor attraction next year.

The boat, built in 1911, was in storage in Le Havre, France, before it was bought by the government.

It saw out the end of the last century as a floating restaurant beside the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

A charitable trust was set up to oversee and raise funds for the restoration of the Nomadic, and it is hoped the vessel will become a major tourist attraction.