Stitched wooden ship unveiled in Goa, to retrace ancient trading routes

Picture posted by Navy Spokesperson on X

In a significant step towards reviving India's ancient maritime heritage, a recreated 5th-century wooden "stitched ship" was launched on Wednesday at Goa’s Divar Island.

Built using traditional shipbuilding techniques, including coconut fiber stitching, coir rope, natural resins and cotton sails, the vessel is modeled on a stitched ship depicted in the Ajanta cave paintings in Maharashtra, the Indian Express reported.

"The Ancient Stitched Ship was "launched" on #26Feb 25 by RAdm KM Ramakrishnan, #FOK, at M/s @Hodiinnovations Ltd, Goa. The Stitched ship is a unique vessel built using wood, coir and natural resin. A traditional ceremony was conducted in the presence of the traditional artisans, #IndianNavy and shipyard personnel. This launch is a testament to India's shipbuilding legacy," the Navy Spokesperson posted on X, along with pictures of the ship.

The ship, which carries a 15-member Indian Navy crew, will embark on a historic voyage to Oman by the end of 2025, retracing ancient trading routes.

Officials clarified that the ship has been “put in the water” for the first time to test its structural integrity before its final completion and eventual journey, the Indian Express report said.

The Ancient Stitched Ship was "launched" on #26Feb 25 by RAdm KM Ramakrishnan, #FOK, at M/s @Hodiinnovations Ltd, Goa.The Stitched ship is a unique vessel built using wood, coir and natural resin. A traditional ceremony was conducted in the presence of the traditional artisans, pic.twitter.com/fRxZ1MBtL0

SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) February 27, 2025

The project is a joint initiative between the Indian Navy, the Ministry of Culture, and Goa-based shipbuilding company Hodi Innovations (OPC) Pvt Ltd. Rear Admiral KM Ramakrishnan, Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area, who presided over the event, emphasized the deeper significance of the launch.

“Today is just not a launch of a vessel. It is the rekindling of a grand maritime tradition… This launch is a tribute to our ancestors who once ruled these waters, and a reaffirmation of our nation’s commitment to honoring and preserving its seafaring legacy,” he said, highlighting India’s historical connection to the Indian Ocean.

The revival of this traditional shipbuilding method was an idea put forward by historian Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council. “He [Sanyal] has written about the existence of stitched ships in his book The Ocean of Churn,” Rear Admiral Ramakrishnan said.

Sanyal said that under the project, an ancient hull has been created.

"We don’t know how it works. We have to do more construction. We have to put the masts… It should be fully ready by May [2025]. After that we will test it, because we do not know exactly how it sails. The first voyage will be to Oman, tentatively towards the end of the year,” he was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

The ship was designed and built in Goa by Hodi Innovations, with expert guidance from Babu Sankaran, a master in stitched ship construction.

He said that each plank is stitched to another using cords, ropes, sealed with a combination of coconut fiber, resin, and fish oil.

The ship features a main mast, mizzen mast and bowsprit mast while its steering is controlled through oars rather than a modern rudder. Its keel is crafted from Matti, Goa’s state tree, while teak, jackfruit wood and traditional sealing mixtures of fish oil and khundrus were used to ensure durability.