Indian Navy’s INSV Kaundinya begins maiden voyage tracing ancient India-Oman trade routes

Indian Navy’s traditionally built tailor-made sailing ship INSV Kaundinya on Monday set out on its maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar in Gujarat to Muscat in Oman, a major step towards reviving India’s ancient seafaring heritage.

The ship was flagged off by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, in the presence of Oman’s Ambassador to India Issa Saleh Al Shibani, PTI reported.

The 65-foot long ship will cover a distance of about 1,400 km in about 15 days with 18 sailors. According to Navy officials quoted by PTI, the voyage follows the historic sea routes that once connected India’s west coast with Oman, allowing trade and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the crew in a post on Twitter as the ship began its journey. Describing the visit as special, Modi said the tailor-made ship reflects India’s rich maritime traditions and congratulated the designers, artisans, shipbuilders and the Indian Navy for their efforts in building the ship.

INSV Kaundinya is built using the ancient sewing-ship technique, in which wooden planks are stitched together using coconut coir rope and sealed with natural resin. Unlike modern ships, it does not use metal fasteners or engines, reflecting shipbuilding practices adopted centuries ago along the coast of India.

The ship is a reconstruction of a fifth-century ship and takes inspiration from a painting found in the Ajanta Caves. Named after the famous sailor Kaundinya, the ship is believed to have sailed from India to South East Asia in ancient times, highlighting India’s long-standing role as a maritime nation.

The project was launched with funding from the Ministry of Culture under a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy and Hodi Innovation. According to PTI report, skilled artisans from Kerala led by master ship builder Babu Shankaran stitched the hull using traditional materials and methods for several months.

INSV Kaundinya was launched at Hodi Shipyard in Goa in February 2025 and formally commissioned into the Indian Navy at Karwar naval base in May. This ship will be based in Karwar, Karnataka.

The visit is expected to strengthen India-Oman relations by highlighting shared maritime heritage and people-to-people ties, officials said. The arrival of the ship in Muscat will symbolize the historic ties between the two countries and India’s continued focus on maritime diplomacy and heritage conservation.