Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended his best wishes to the crew of INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy’s unique engineless vessel built using the ancient stitched-ship technique, as it embarked on its maiden voyage from Porbandar to Muscat, Oman, retracing historic maritime routes.
The vessel was formally flagged off by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, at Porbandar. The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Oman to India, Issa Saleh Al Shibani, highlighting the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between India and the Gulf region.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Wonderful to see that INSV Kaundinya is embarking on her maiden voyage from Porbandar to Muscat, Oman. My best wishes to the crew for a safe and memorable journey, as they retrace our historic links with the Gulf region and beyond.”
Emphasising India’s rich maritime heritage, Modi noted that the vessel, built using the ancient Indian stitched-ship technique, stands as a testament to the country’s seafaring traditions. He also congratulated the designers, artisans, shipbuilders and the Indian Navy for their dedicated efforts in bringing the unique vessel to life.
According to the Ministry of Defence, INSV Kaundinya is inspired by depictions of ancient Indian ships and has been constructed entirely using traditional stitched-plank techniques. Unlike modern vessels, its wooden planks are stitched together using coconut coir rope and sealed with natural resins—a shipbuilding tradition once widespread along India’s coastline and across the Indian Ocean.
The project was undertaken under a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy and Hodi Innovations, as part of India’s broader initiative to rediscover and revive indigenous knowledge systems.
Named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, believed to have sailed from India to Southeast Asia in ancient times, the vessel symbolises India’s historic role as a maritime nation and its enduring links with regions across the Indian Ocean.
