In a historic development, the Indian Navy is set to welcome a traditionally constructed Ancient Stitched Ship at the Naval Base in Karwar on May 21, 2025. This momentous event will be attended by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Hon’ble Minister of Culture, who will unveil the ship’s name during its formal induction into the Navy’s heritage fleet.
This remarkable vessel is a meticulously crafted replica of a 5th-century CE Indian ocean-going ship, drawing inspiration from a mural located in the Ajanta Caves. The project exemplifies a unique merger of archaeology, naval engineering, and cultural preservation, having been birthed from a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 among the Indian Navy, the Ministry of Culture, and Goa-based M/s Hodi Innovations. The initiative was financed by the Ministry of Culture, with the keel laid in September 2023 and the ship launched in February 2025 at Hodi Shipyard in Goa.
Under the expert guidance of Master shipwright Shri Babu Sankaran, a team of traditional artisans from Kerala employed ancient shipbuilding methods to construct the vessel. Their meticulous craftsmanship involved stitching together thousands of joints using coconut coir ropes, natural resins, and wooden dowels. This revival of pre-modern techniques pays homage to a time when such artisan skills were the backbone of maritime endeavors. Given the absence of surviving shipwrecks or blueprints from that era, the design of the ship was carefully derived by extrapolating information from Ajanta artwork, thereby marrying artistic expression with groundbreaking structural innovation.
To ensure the vessel’s seaworthiness, the Indian Navy collaborated with the Department of Ocean Engineering at IIT Madras for comprehensive hydrodynamic testing. An internal structural analysis corroborated the ship’s strength, particularly regarding its wooden mast system. Features such as square sails and steering oars are a nod to designs that once dominated Indian Ocean trade routes, pre-dating European maritime influences.
Upon its induction, the Navy has plans for the ship to embark on a transoceanic journey from Gujarat to Oman, retracing historical maritime routes and rekindling India’s long-standing trade connections with the Arabian Peninsula. This journey will not only showcase the ship’s operational capabilities but also celebrate India’s rich seafaring heritage.
This initiative offers a glimpse into the Indian Navy’s dedication to preserving cultural heritage and advancing historical scholarship. It underscores India’s influential role in maritime trade that extended across the Indian Ocean for centuries. Moreover, the construction of this ship plays a crucial role in safeguarding an art form that is rapidly fading, but still exists in certain areas along India’s Konkan coast for small fishing craft, ensuring that the valuable skills and knowledge of stitched shipbuilding are preserved for future generations.
