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Stitched-Ship INSV Kaundinya Nears Halfway to Muscat After Weather-Delayed Start

The Indian Navy-backed voyage is reviving a fifth-century stitched-ship tradition to retrace historic links to Oman.

Overview

  • Onboard updates say the vessel is approaching the halfway mark after early days of adverse winds and currents slowed progress.
  • Recent conditions included calms and light northeasterlies moving the ship at roughly 1.5–2 knots, with no safety incidents reported.
  • Fresh provisions have run out mid-voyage, and the crew has shifted to dry staples such as Gujarati thepla with mango pickle.
  • The 20-metre vessel is built without an engine or metal fasteners, uses cotton square sails, and is steered by long oars rather than a rudder.
  • The project—endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi—was executed by Kerala artisans under Hodi Innovations as a Ministry of Culture–Indian Navy initiative to document ancient seafaring methods.