New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted the crew of the Navy’s INSV Kaundinya, which is built using traditional technology. The ship has set out from Porbandar in Gujarat on its maiden voyage to Oman.
Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, formally flagged off INSV Kaundinya in the presence of Isa Saleh Al Shibani, Ambassador of Oman to India.
“It is a great pleasure to see that INSV Koundinya sets out from Porbandar on its maiden voyage to Muscat, Oman…my best wishes to the crew for a safe and memorable journey, reviving our historic ties in the Gulf region and beyond,” the Prime Minister said in a post on ‘X’.
Modi said that this ship, built with traditional Indian technology, reflects the rich maritime traditions of India. “I congratulate the designers, craftsmen, shipbuilders and the Indian Navy for the dedicated efforts made in realizing this distinctive ship,” the Prime Minister said.
The Defense Ministry said that inspired by the iconography of ancient Indian ships and built entirely using traditional technology, INSV Kaundinya presents a rare combination of history, craftsmanship and modern naval expertise. The wooden planks of the Kaudinya are tied together with coconut fiber rope and sealed with natural resins, reflecting the shipbuilding tradition once prevalent along the coasts of India and the Indian Ocean.
The project was initiated through a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy and Hodi Innovation Company, as a part of India’s efforts to rediscover and revive indigenous knowledge systems. The ship is named after the legendary sailor Kaundinya, who is believed to have traveled from India to Southeast Asia in ancient times. The ship symbolizes India’s historical role as a maritime nation.
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