The project to restore SS Nomadic, tender ship to RMS Titanic, has received a £500,000 (US$826,895, 561,450 euro) award from the Tourism Development scheme of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB). The sum brings the amount raised by the Nomadic Charitable Trust (NCT) to over £4m (US$6.6m, 4.5m euro).

Now housed at Hamilton Dock in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, Nomadic - the last remaining White Star Line vessel - is seen as an important heritage asset for Northern Ireland. Earlier this year, fundraising for the ship's restoration came under scrutiny from the Northern Ireland Audit Office. The NCT believes that the award, plus a £2.27m (US$3.7m, 2.5m euro) EU grant awarded in August, goes a long way to addressing those concerns and says it is "delighted that NITB has recognised the project's potential."

NCT chair, Denis Rooney added: "Nomadic is a unique project - she represents the country's strong maritime and industrial heritage and her links to Titanic further strengthen her appeal. Her restoration will undoubtedly improve the visitor experience and enhance Northern Ireland as a tourism destination." In addition to this NITB grant, funding for the project has also been received from EU PEACE III Programme, Belfast City Council, Department for Social Development, Belfast Harbour, Titanic Quarter Ltd., Ulster Garden Villages and the Better Belfast project.