New Delhi, 29 December (H.S.): In a spectacular tribute to India’s ancient shipbuilding and maritime traditions, the Indian Navy’s sail vessel Koundinya embarked on its maiden voyage from Porbandar, Gujarat, to Muscat, Oman, on Monday.
This symbolic expedition retraces historic sea routes that, for thousands of years, connected India to the wider Indian Ocean world.
Constructed entirely using traditional “stitch-and-plank” craftsmanship inspired by ancient Indian maritime depictions, INSV Koundinya represents a rare confluence of history, artisanal skill, and modern naval expertise. Unlike contemporary vessels built with metals and welding techniques, its wooden planks are stitched together using coir (coconut fiber) ropes and sealed with natural resin — a hallmark of early Indian shipbuilding.
This ancient method once enabled Indian sailors to traverse extensive distances across the Western Indian Ocean, reaching as far as West Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia long before the age of modern navigation and metallurgy.
The project was initiated under a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, as part of India’s broader effort to rediscover and revive its indigenous knowledge systems. Master shipwright Babu Shankaran led the construction, ensuring the vessel was fully seaworthy and capable of enduring open-ocean sailing.
Named after the legendary mariner Koundinya, who is believed to have voyaged from India to Southeast Asia in ancient times, the vessel symbolizes India’s rich heritage as a historic maritime nation.
INSV Koundinya has been built using a 2,000-year-old technique. Measuring 65 feet in length, 22 feet in width, and 13 feet in height, the 50-ton vessel is manned by a 16-member crew. The sailboat will cover approximately 1,400 kilometers (around 750 nautical miles) between Porbandar and Muscat over the next 15 days, navigating through the Arabian Sea along ancient trading corridors once frequented by Indian merchants.
The ceremonial flag-off event was presided over by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, as the chief guest. His Excellency Issa Saleh Abdullah Saleh Al Shibani, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to India, also graced the occasion, highlighting the enduring maritime and cultural ties between India and Oman.
INSV Koundinya not only revives the grandeur of India’s seafaring history but also stands as a modern-day emblem of the nation’s pursuit to bridge heritage with innovation — sailing steadily into the past to chart a future grounded in tradition.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
