Muscat

INSV Kaundinya crew member and Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal on Wednesday shared his experience of the vessel’s 18-day maiden international voyage from Gujarat’s Porbandar to Muscat, describing the journey as memorable despite challenging weather conditions.

Recalling the voyage, Sanyal said, “We had some gorgeous sunrises and moonrises, but we also had rain and storms. The Indian Navy crew is amazing.”

Expressing his excitement over the successful completion of the expedition, he added, “Absolutely thrilled to be here. It has been a dream. It is not just about being at sea for 18 days; it is about something that goes back five years.”

Highlighting the historical significance of the project, Sanyal said that the technological capabilities of ancient Indian mariners are often underestimated. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for encouraging the initiative, stating, “Without the Prime Minister’s encouragement, this could not have started,” and noted that the Ministry of Culture financed the project.

He also underlined the Indian Navy’s role in the expedition, saying the Navy supervised the construction of the ship and crewed it for the voyage. Sharing details of the next steps, Sanyal said the vessel would undergo inspection in Muscat before the crew returns to India.

The remarks came as the crew of INSV Kaundinya celebrated the vessel’s arrival in Muscat after completing its maiden overseas voyage. Marking the occasion, the Indian Navy’s indigenously built traditional stitched sailing vessel was accorded a water salute on Wednesday.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal hailed the expedition, calling INSV Kaundinya “a shining example” of Prime Minister Modi’s efforts to revive India’s maritime legacy. “It was his resolve to revive India’s ancient shipbuilding genius and present it proudly before the world,” Sonowal said, adding that the vessel symbolises the timeless strength and innovation of India’s maritime heritage.

The ship draws inspiration from a 5th-century vessel depicted in the Ajanta Caves and is named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya. It departed from Porbandar on December 29, 2025, with a crew comprising four officers and 13 naval sailors, led by Expedition Skipper Commander Vikas Sheoran and Officer-in-Charge Commander Y Hemant Kumar. Sanyal, who was part of the crew, shared regular updates during the voyage on social media.

INSV Kaundinya is a stitched sail ship based on ancient shipbuilding traditions. The project was initiated through a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy and M/s Hodi Innovations, with funding provided by the Ministry of Culture.

Following the keel laying in September 2023, the vessel was constructed using traditional stitching techniques by a team of skilled artisans from Kerala led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran, employing coir rope, coconut fibre and natural resin. The ship was launched in February 2025 in Goa, with the Indian Navy overseeing design validation and technical assessments, including hydrodynamic testing at IIT Madras.

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Incorporating culturally significant elements such as Gandabherunda and Sun motifs on its sails, a sculpted Simha Yali on the bow, and a Harappan-style stone anchor on its deck, the vessel stands as a symbol of India’s ancient traditions of maritime exploration, trade and cultural exchange.