Archive · 30 Dec 2025
INSV Kaundinya Begins Maiden Voyage to Oman
The INSV Kaundinya is a special ship built using very old techniques from over 1,500 years ago.
It is made by sewing wooden planks together with coconut fiber ropes instead of using metal nails.
The ship is powered by wind and sails and has a crew of 16 sailors.
It was built by traditional craftsmen from Kerala and inducted into the Indian Navy in May 2025.
The ship is going on a journey from Porbandar in Gujarat to Muscat in Oman to show how people used to travel on the sea long ago.
The voyage aims to retrace ancient Indian maritime trade routes and showcase India's rich shipbuilding heritage.
The ship is named after a legendary Indian mariner, Kaundinya, who sailed to Southeast Asia in ancient times.
The journey is significant because it highlights India's historical maritime activity, trade, and exploration.
The ship features culturally significant elements like the Gandabherunda and the Sun on its sails, a sculpted Simha Yali on the bow, and a Harappan-style stone anchor on the deck.
The voyage is expected to strengthen India-Omani relations by reinforcing shared maritime heritage and deepening cultural and people-to-people ties.
INSV Kaundinya is a stitched sail ship built using 1,500-year-old techniques, inspired by a 5th-century CE ship depicted in the paintings of Ajanta Caves.
The ship is made of wooden planks sewn together with coir ropes and sealed with natural resins, with no metal used in its construction.
It is powered entirely by wind and sails, with a crew of 16 sailors, and carries symbolic Indian items.
The ship was built by traditional craftsmen from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran, and inducted into the Indian Navy in May 2025.
The voyage from Porbandar to Muscat aims to retrace ancient Indian maritime trade routes and showcase India's rich shipbuilding heritage, covering a distance of approximately 1,400 km (750 nautical miles).
- Who
- Indian Navy, traditional craftsmen from Kerala, and a crew of 16 members
- What
- INSV Kaundinya, a stitched sail ship built using 1,500-year-old techniques
- When
- Voyage started on December 29, 2025
- Where
- From Porbandar, Gujarat to Muscat, Oman
- Why
- To retrace ancient Indian maritime trade routes and showcase India's rich shipbuilding heritage
- Length
- 65 feet (19.6 meters)
- Width
- 22 feet (6.5 meters)
- Height
- 13 feet
- Weight
- 50 tonnes
- Crew Size
- 16 members (4 officers and 13 sailors)
- Construction Method
- Stitched planks with coir ropes and natural resins
- Materials Used
- Wooden planks, coir rope, natural resins, and oils
- Launch Date
- February 2025
- Induction Date
- May 2025
- Voyage Start Date
- December 29, 2025
- Voyage Route
- Porbandar, Gujarat to Muscat, Oman
- Distance
- 1,400 km (750 nautical miles)
- Inspiration
- 5th-century CE ship depicted in the paintings of Ajanta Caves
- Name Origin
- Named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya
- Voyage Duration
- Approximately 15 days
- Shipwright
- Babu Sankaran
- Skipper
- Commander Vikas Sheoran
- Officer-in-Charge
- Commander Y. Hemant Kumar
Sources
INSV Kaundinya: All About The Engine-Less Ship Set To Sail From India To Oman
INSV Kaundinya: The significance of an engine-less ship sailing from India to Oman
INSV Kaundinya begins journey to Oman: All you need to know about the ancient-style sailing vessel
Ajanta-era design, no engine, no steel: Navy’s INSV Kaundinya sets sail to Oman
Stitched sailing vessel INSV Kaundinya on maiden voyage to retrace ancient maritime routes to Oman
Indian Navy’s INSV Kaundinya begins maiden voyage, retracing ancient India-Oman trade routes
Indian Navy's Engineless Ship INSV Kaundinya Sets Sail To Oman
Reviving India's ancient maritime glory: INSV Kaundinya sets sail for maiden voyage to Oman
5th-century Indian ship INSV Kaundinya embarks on maiden voyage; PM Modi hails Navy
INSV Kaundinya Begins Maiden Voyage to Oman
INSV Kaundinya begins maiden voyage, reviving India’s ancient maritime legacy
