INSV Kaundinya

Why in news ? Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Kaundinya, the Indian Navy’s indigenously built traditional stitched sailing vessel, sailed on her maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar, Gujarat to Muscat, Sultanate of Oman on 29 Dec 2025.
INSV Kaundinya is a traditional sailing vessel inspired by the depictions of ancient Indian ships found on historical seals and artefacts. The vessel utilized stitched-plank shipbuilding techniques in which wooden planks are stitched together with coconut coir rope and sealed with natural resins instead of metal nails.
The vessel highlights India’s long maritime tradition and historical seafaring links across the Indian Ocean, especially trade and cultural exchange with West Asia, Africa and Southeast Asia. 
Additionally, it is also developed for the purpose of navigation training.
INSV Kaundinya was built under a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy and M/s Hodi Innovations, as part of efforts to revive and preserve indigenous knowledge systems. 
Traditional artisans constructed the ship under the guidance of master shipwright Babu Sankaran, with research and technical support provided by the Indian Navy and academic institutions.
Named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, believed to have sailed from India to Southeast Asia in ancient times, INSV Kaundinya reflects India’s historical role as a seafaring nation.