INSV Kaundinya, Navy's stitched sailing ship, sets out from Porbandar to Muscat on maiden voyage
On 29 December 2025 at Porbandar, Gujarat, the Indian Navy's traditional stitched sailing vessel INSV Kaundinya set out on her maiden overseas voyage to Muscat, Oman.
Summary
On 29 December 2025 at Porbandar, Gujarat, INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy's indigenously built traditional stitched sailing vessel, set out on her maiden overseas voyage to Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, flagged off the vessel in the presence of Oman's Ambassador to India, Issa Saleh Al Shibani, with Commander Vikas Sheoran as skipper. INSV Kaundinya was built using centuries-old stitched shipbuilding techniques and natural materials, and the voyage retraces ancient trade routes linking India's west coast and Gujarat with Oman; Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the voyage.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 29 December 2025, Porbandar (Gujarat)
- Destination
- Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
- Vessel
- INSV Kaundinya, traditional stitched sailing vessel
- Flagged off by
- VAdm Krishna Swaminathan, FOC-in-C Western Naval Command
- Guest
- Oman Ambassador Issa Saleh Al Shibani
- Skipper
- Commander Vikas Sheoran
Practice MCQs 3 questions
INSV Kaundinya set out on her maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar on 29 December 2025 to which destination?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Muscat
PIB (Defence): INSV Kaundinya sailed from Porbandar, Gujarat, to Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, on 29 December 2025.
What makes INSV Kaundinya, which began her maiden voyage in December 2025, distinctive?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — It was built using the ancient stitched shipbuilding technique
PIB (Defence and PMO): INSV Kaundinya was constructed using traditional stitched shipbuilding techniques with natural materials dating back several centuries.
Consider the following statements about INSV Kaundinya's maiden voyage: 1. The vessel was flagged off by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. 2. The voyage retraces ancient routes linking India's west coast with Oman. 3. The vessel has a steel hull built with modern welding to meet blue-water safety norms. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Defence): VAdm Krishna Swaminathan, FOC-in-C Western Naval Command, flagged off the vessel, and the voyage retraces ancient routes between India's west coast and Oman. The ship is built with traditional stitched techniques and natural materials, not a welded steel hull.