The Nomadic took passengers out to the Titanic

The SS Nomadic was bought by the Northern Ireland Office at an auction in Paris for �171,320 in January.

It had lately fallen into disrepair and the government bowed to pressure to save it from the breakers yard.

Social Development Minister David Hanson said: "Nomadic has the potential to bring living history of this period back to Belfast in a tangible way."

Mr Hanson said it "will help to attract tourists and regenerate the city".

The ship will be brought to Belfast by barge and will dock for two days on the River Lagan at the Odyssey complex to allow the public to see it.

It will then move to the Harland and Wolff shipyard where the extent of necessary repairs will be assessed.

The Department of Social Development is to set up a charitable trust to oversee its restoration, which is thought could cost up to �7m.

Semi-derelict

Nomadic saw service in both World Wars and was later used as a restaurant on the Seine in Paris.

More recently, it has been languishing semi-derelict in the port of Le Havre.

It is hoped that the vessel will become the centrepiece of a new tourist quarter dedicated to the world's most famous ship.

Other attractions include the slipway where Titanic was built, the drawing offices where the blueprints for the ship were drawn, and the Thompson Dock and pump house, where she was fitted out.