The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya, an indigenously built stitched sailing vessel, has completed its maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar, Gujarat, India to Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman. This journey marks a significant achievement in reviving India’s ancient maritime heritage and symbolises the historic sea linksbetween India and the Arabian Peninsula.
What Is INSV Kaundinya?
INSV Kaundinya is a traditional stitched ship constructed for the Indian Navy using ancient Indian shipbuilding techniques. The vessel’s design is inspired by depictions of boats in 5th-century CE Ajanta Cave paintings, with construction methods that do not use modern metal fastenings or engines. Instead, wooden planks of the hull are stitched together using coconut coir rope and natural resins, and it is powered entirely by wind and sails.
The project to create INSV Kaundinya was initiated through a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations (OPC) Private Ltd in July 2023, with funding from the Ministry of Culture. The keel was laid on 12 September 2023, and the vessel was formally commissioned into the Indian Navy on 21 May 2025 at the Karwar Naval Base.
The Maiden Overseas Voyage
INSV Kaundinya’s historic transoceanic voyage began on 29 December 2025 when the vessel set sail from Porbandar, on the western coast of India, bound for Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. The ship’s maiden voyage was deliberately planned to symbolically retrace ancient maritime routes that connected the Indian subcontinent with the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
By 12 January 2026, the vessel had entered Omani waters, and it completed its voyage when it arrived at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, where it was greeted with a water salute and ceremonial welcome.
Crew and Leadership
The voyage was undertaken by a crew of seventeen Indian Navy personnel consisting of four officers and thirteen sailors, led by Commander Vikas Sheoran, with Commander Y Hemant Kumar serving as the Officer-in-Charge of the expedition.
Why the Voyage Matters
Revival of Maritime Heritage
INSV Kaundinya’s construction and voyage draw directly on traditional Indian seafaring practices that predate modern shipbuilding. Its successful sea passage demonstrates the seaworthiness of historical indigenous shipbuilding methods, providing both technical insights into ancient maritime engineering and a symbolic link to India’s long nautical history.
Cultural and Civilisational Links
The arrival in Muscat underscores India-Oman maritime heritage, reflecting links between South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula that span centuries of trade, cultural exchange, and navigation. The expedition coincides with commemorations of seven decades of diplomatic relations between India and Oman.
Symbolic and Diplomatic Reception
The vessel’s arrival in Muscat was marked by a formal reception, including remarks by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, who highlighted the voyage’s symbolism in celebrating India’s seafaring legacy and strengthening bilateral ties with Oman.
Technology and Craftsmanship
INSV Kaundinya is notable for its engine-less, wind-powered design, unusual in a modern naval context, and for its traditional stitched-plank construction, which avoids metal nails or modern welding and instead uses indigenous materials and techniques. These features honour historical shipbuilding practice and provide a living experiment in how pre-modern mariners travelled ocean waters.
Closing Thoughts
The successful completion of INSV Kaundinya’s maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar to Muscat is a milestone in both naval heritage and cultural diplomacy. By blending ancient craftsmanship with contemporary naval ambition, the voyage reaffirms India’s long maritime history and its enduring connections across the Indian Ocean region.