Indian Navy Recreates 5th-Century Stitched Ship, Commissions It as INSV Kaundinya

INSV Kaundinya: The Indian Navy has shared news of inducting a handmade stitched ship named INSV Kaundinya. The newly inducted vessel has its cultural and historical significance in the 5th Century. It is named after a legendary mariner who sailed across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia. Harappan Style Stone is on the deck and anchor areas of the ship. A stitched ship is known as a wooden sea-going vessel. All the planks of the ship are stitched together using coir, ropes, and natural resins. It is an ancient method applied to develop the ship and send them into the sea and oceans. Project INSV Kaundinya is an attempt to protect our historical culture and heritage. This year, the ship will embark on its trans-oceanic voyage from Gujarat to Oman.

 Project INSV Kaundinya Stitched Sail Ship

Project INSV Kaundinya is a fully functional, handmade stitched sail ship inducted into the Navy. The efforts are made to preserve the historical presence of the ship associated with the 5th century. The model of the ship is inspired by the Ajanta Caves. Union Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and M/s Hodi Innovations signed to preserve INSV Kaundinya in 2023.

Role Of Cultural Ministry

The Cultural Ministry participated in signing the agreement for the fully-funded project to preserve INSV Kaundinya. An ancient 5th-century ship was designed using the handmade stitched technique. Cultural Ministry, along with the Indian Navy and M/s Hodi Innovations, decided to work on the project of INSV Kaundinya to preserve the historical heritage associated with the sailor ship. 

Role Of M/s Hodi Innovations In Preserving INSV Kaundinya

• M/s Hodi Innovations handled the responsibility of ship construction in Goa. 

• The first was first launched at sea in February 2025 by the team of M/s Hodi Innovations. 

• After the completion of the sea, INSV Kaundinya has been inducted into the Indian Navy. 

Indian Navy Contribution

• The Indian Navy is the leading agency responsible for working on the INSV Kaundinya preservation. 

• It worked on the project’s conceptualizing and execution. 

• Indian Navy team handled the responsibility related to the designing, constructing and solving the technical problems of INSV Kaundinya. 

• Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and the Indian Navy collaborated to do the model testing of the ship. 

• It validates the ship’s hydrodynamic behavior at sea. 

• Indian Navy officials will operate the ship. 

• INSV Kaundinya's first voyage will start from Gujarat to Oman by crossing the Arabian Sea. 

Key Features Of INSV Kaundinya

• INSV Kaundinya is constructed using the stitched plank technique. The wooden planks are joined using the coir, resin, coconut fibre, and natural resin. 

• The ship design has been inspired by the Ajanta Caves. 

• IIT Madras performed the hydrodynamic testing. 

• Several artistic elements used in INSV Kaundinya include harapann style stone deck, simha yali bow.

• INSV Kaundinya has been equipped with the traditional things, square sails and steering oars.

Artisans Who Built The Ship

A team of skilled artisans from Kerala worked on the construction of the ship. The team leader is master shipwright Babu Sankaran. The artisans took several months to construct the ship using wooden planks, coir ropes and natural resins. 

What is the Inspiration Behind Naming The Ship Kaundinya?

Kaundinya was a first-century merchant who sailed through the South Asian regions. He married to the Queen Soma of Funan and took the responsibility of co-founder of the kingdom. Therefore, the authorities decided to name the ship INSV Kaundinya.

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