MAY 20: In a landmark step to revive and honour India’s ancient maritime traditions, the Indian Navy will induct a traditionally built stitched ship on 21 May 2025 at Naval Base, Karwar. The Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, will preside over the ceremony as Chief Guest and unveil the ship’s name during the induction ceremony.
The unique vessel is a full-scale reconstruction of a 5th century CE ship, inspired by imagery found in the Ajanta cave paintings. Its construction was undertaken using ancient shipbuilding techniques—completely devoid of modern materials such as nails or welding. Instead, artisans used coir ropes and traditional wooden joinery to stitch the hull, showcasing India’s indigenous maritime craftsmanship.
This cultural-technical initiative was launched in July 2023 through a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and M/s Hodi Innovations. With funding from the Ministry of Culture, the keel of the stitched ship was laid in September 2023, and the vessel was successfully launched in February 2025 at the Hodi Shipyard in Goa.
The ship’s design and construction were overseen by the Indian Navy in collaboration with master shipwright Shri Babu Sankaran and a team of artisans from Kerala. The project presented significant challenges, given the absence of physical blueprints. The design had to be reinterpreted from a two-dimensional painting and converted into a functional seafaring vessel through an interdisciplinary approach involving archaeology, naval architecture, and traditional craftsmanship.
To ensure seaworthiness while preserving historical authenticity, the Indian Navy partnered with IIT Madras for hydrodynamic model testing and conducted in-house structural assessments for the handcrafted wooden mast system. The ship features square sails, steering oars, and a stitched wooden hull—elements that are radically different from modern naval vessels.
Following its induction, the Navy will initiate the second phase of the project: sailing the vessel along historic maritime trade routes. Plans are underway for a maiden transoceanic voyage from Gujarat to Oman, echoing ancient Indian trade expeditions.
This milestone not only celebrates India’s rich maritime past but also showcases the Navy’s dedication to preserving and operationalising living traditions of India’s shipbuilding heritage.