INSV Kaundinya, a stitched sail ship, was formally inducted into the Indian Navy at a ceremony in Karwar.
The ship is a recreation of a fifth-century vessel from the Ajanta Caves paintings.
The project was launched in July 2023 through an agreement between the Union Culture Ministry, the Navy, and Hodi Innovations.
The ship was built using a traditional stitching method by skilled artisans from Kerala.
Construction used coir rope, coconut fibre, and natural resin to stitch wooden planks.
INSV Kaundinya will soon prepare for a transoceanic voyage from Gujarat to Oman, following the ancient trade route.
The ship's design was reconstructed from artistic iconography, as no physical blueprints exist.
The ship features square sails and steering oars, which are not used in modern ships.
The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras assisted with model testing to validate the ship’s hydrodynamic behavior at sea.
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