In a historic moment that bridged five millennia of shared history, the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya glided into Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman on Wednesday, completing its maiden 1,300-nautical-mile voyage from Porbandar, India. The arrival of the traditionally built “stitched” ship marks a pinnacle in the ongoing celebrations of 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and Oman.
The vessel, which departed Gujarat on December 29, 2025, was received with a ceremonial water salute and a high-profile welcome party led by India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Oman’s Undersecretary of Tourism, H.E. Azzan Al Busaidi.
INSV Kaundinya is not merely a boat, it is a reconstruction of ancient Indian engineering. Inspired by a 5th-century CE vessel depicted in the Ajanta Cave paintings, the ship was built without a single metal nail. Instead, its wooden planks were painstakingly stitched together using coir rope and sealed with natural resins—a technique that once facilitated trade between the Indus Valley and the Magan (ancient Oman) civilizations.
“This event is not only a celebration of a voyage, but of a deep-rooted civilizational bond,” said Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the ceremony. “The arrival of this stitched ship in Muscat is symbolic of an enduring friendship anchored in history and enriched by trade. It reflects the resolve to revive India’s ancient shipbuilding genius and present it proudly before the world.”
The voyage served as a backdrop for high-level bilateral talks. Minister Sonowal met with his Omani counterpart, H.E. Eng. Said bin Hamood bin Said Al Mawali, to discuss the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and investment opportunities in India’s port sector, including the $9 billion Vadhavan Port project.
The leaders also explored the establishment of a Green Shipping Corridor to promote sustainable maritime trade. The visit further saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on maritime heritage.
