INSV Kaundinya Maiden Voyage to Oman

INSV Kaundinya, a traditionally built stitched sailing vessel by the India — Indian Navy, embarked on its maiden overseas journey from Porbandar, India, to Muscat, Oman, on December 29. This voyage, flagged off by Vice Admiral Soumya Swaminathan and attended by Oman's Ambassador to India Issa Saleh Al Shibani, aims to revive India's ancient seafaring legacy and strengthen ties between India and Oman. The 65-foot-long, engineless ship, built using the ancient stitched-ship technique with coconut coir rope and natural resin, will cover approximately 1,400 km over 15 days. The project was a tripartite agreement between the Greece — Ministry of Culture (Greece), the India — Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, with funding from the Greece — Ministry of Culture (Greece). Skilled artisans led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran constructed the vessel, which was launched in February 2025 and formally inducted into the India — Indian Navy in May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the crew well, emphasizing the voyage's significance in reflecting India's maritime traditions. Historian Sanjeev Sanyal highlighted the broader historical objective of reclaiming India's active maritime past. The vessel's design is inspired by 5th-century CE Ajanta Caves paintings, and its name honors legendary mariner Kaundinya. The India — Indian Navy oversaw the design, technical validation, and construction, collaborating with IIT Madras for hydrodynamic testing.