Indian Navy’s first ready stitched sailing vessel – INSV Koundinya will begin its maiden voyage Gujarati

New Delhi: INSV Koundinya, the first stitched sailing vessel of the Indian Navy, which revives India’s ancient shipbuilding and maritime traditions, will embark on her maiden overseas voyage on December 29, 2025. The ship will sail from Porbandar, Gujarat to Muscat, Oman, symbolically reconstructing the historic sea routes that connected India with the Indian Ocean world for thousands of years.

Inspired by photographs of ancient Indian ships and built entirely using traditional slitted plank techniques, INSV Koundinya represents a rare blend of history, craftsmanship and modern naval acumen. Unlike today’s ships, their wooden planks are sewn with black cord and sealed with natural resin, reflecting the shipbuilding tradition once prevalent along the Indian coast and throughout the Indian Ocean. This technology enabled Indian sailors to travel long distances across West Asia, Africa and Southeast Asia before the advent of modern navigation and metallurgy.

The project was undertaken under a tripartite MoU between the Ministry of Culture, Indian Navy and M/s Hodi Innovations as part of India’s efforts to rediscover and revive indigenous knowledge systems. Built by traditional craftsmen under the guidance of Master Shipwright Shri Babu Shankaran and supported by extensive research, design and testing by the Indian Navy and academic institutions, the ship is fully seaworthy and seaworthy.

Named after the famous navigator Kaṇḍinyāna, who is believed to have traveled from India to Southeast Asia in ancient times, the ship reflects India’s historical role as a maritime nation.