The team responsible for restoring SS Nomadic plan to go all the way and reinstal engines so that she will be able to tour the new Titanic Quarter.

The vessel was moved across Belfast harbour yesterday from Harland & Wolff - where she was built 95 years ago - to a new berth at Barnett Dock.

The move will provide a vital "breathing space" allowing the work to get started on her restoration, according to Denis Rooney, chair of the new Nomadic Preservation Trust.

He said he hoped the public would have access to parts of the ship from early next year.

Nomadic is the tender that once carried first and second class passengers onto the Titanic on the liner's maiden voyage, and the Belfast Telegraph has spearheaded the media campaign to save her from the scrapyard.

"The ship is in remarkably good condition, so we're very, very pleased, " Mr Rooney said.

"Our biggest concern is rainwater damage and ingress, so we are going to take steps very, very quickly to put on temporary covers to prevent any further leakage. There are not a lot of other first aid repairs required.

"Our next stage will be to try and make parts of her accessible to the public as quickly as possibly. We hope to have that by early next year."

Within half an hour of mooring at Barnett Dock yesterday, volunteers were already carrying plates of glass on board which will be used to replace some of the leaking windows. A dehumidifier will then be installed to combat condensation. Mr Rooney said the trust is keen to see Nomadic re-engined, and possibly even powered by steam.

"Our desire is to put engines back in her in some shape or form and have her afloat and active as a ship," he said.

"We haven't done a detailed budgeting exercise and that will be one of our early exercises.

"The trust is very, very keen to see her operational in some form, with visitors being able to not only get access but sail on her in some capacity.

"Ultimately it would be great if we could get a steam engine similar to the other one and we know there are some available globally. We are going to have to look at that because the engines have been stripped out.

"She will have to go through health and safety tests but the superstructure is fine."

Mr Rooney said the trust is looking at restoring Nomadic to carry out a similar role as in her early days as a passenger tender.

"She was originally designed for first and second class passengers. We have two lower decks in very good conditions and in many ways restoring it as close to as it was would be the perfect tourist experience. There is a group studying the vision and how to deliver that vision and it will address all of those issues."