The last maritime link to the Titanic has celebrated the centenary of its launch.

Tender the SS Nomadic carried passengers to the doomed transatlantic liner, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1912 with the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

At a ceremony in Belfast yesterday a commemorative plaque was unveiled on board the Nomadic to mark the date.

Denis Rooney, chairman of the Nomadic Charitable Trust which is restoring the vessel, said: “This is a very special day as Nomadic is celebrating her centenary birthday.

“It is nice to honour her as she is the last remaining White Star Line vessel to have survived in the world today.”

The ship was launched from Hamilton Dock on April 25, 1911.

In 2006, the Department for Social Development purchased the SS Nomadic at a Paris auction. The vessel was brought back to its home city and it is being restored to its former glory in Hamilton Dock, Belfast.