INSV Kaundinya to Begin Maiden Overseas Voyage

INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy’s unique stitched sailing vessel that revives India’s ancient shipbuilding and maritime traditions, will undertake her maiden overseas voyage on December 29, 2025. The historic journey marks a symbolic return to India’s long-standing seafaring legacy and its deep civilisational links across the Indian Ocean.

Flag-Off from Porbandar to Muscat

The vessel will be flagged off from Porbandar in Gujarat and will sail to Muscat in Oman, retracing historic maritime routes that once connected the Indian subcontinent with West Asia and beyond. The voyage reflects India’s enduring maritime engagement with the Indian Ocean region, which facilitated trade, cultural exchange and diplomatic ties for centuries.

Reviving Ancient Stitched Shipbuilding

INSV Kaundinya has been constructed entirely using the traditional stitched-plank technique, a method once widely practised along India’s coastline. Unlike modern ships, the wooden planks of the vessel are stitched together using coconut coir rope and sealed with natural resins. This technology, devoid of metal fastenings, enabled ancient Indian mariners to undertake long-distance oceanic voyages to Africa, Southeast Asia and West Asia well before the advent of modern navigation tools.

Collaborative Effort to Rediscover Indigenous Knowledge

The project was undertaken through a tripartite memorandum of understanding involving the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy and M/s Hodi Innovations. Built by traditional artisans under the guidance of master shipwright Babu Sankaran, the vessel was supported by extensive research, design validation and testing by the Indian Navy and academic institutions. The ship is fully seaworthy and capable of sustained ocean navigation.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• INSV Kaundinya is built using the ancient stitched-plank shipbuilding technique.
• Coconut coir rope and natural resins are used instead of metal fastenings.
• The vessel will sail from Porbandar to Muscat in its maiden overseas voyage.
• The project involved the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy.

Symbol of India’s Maritime Heritage

The vessel is named after Kaundinya, a legendary ancient mariner believed to have sailed from India to Southeast Asia, symbolising India’s historic role as a maritime nation. INSV Kaundinya represents a rare convergence of history, craftsmanship and modern naval expertise, reinforcing India’s efforts to rediscover and showcase indigenous knowledge systems while strengthening its cultural and maritime diplomacy in the Indian Ocean world.