Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya was flagged-in at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on 2 March 2026 after successfully completing its maiden overseas voyage to Muscat, Oman, marking a major milestone for the Indian Navy and the revival of India’s ancient maritime traditions.
The flag-in ceremony was conducted by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth in the presence of senior naval leadership, including Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, as well as naval personnel, maritime community members, and representatives from Oman.
INSV Kaundinya is a 20-metre traditionally constructed stitched sailing vessel of the Indian Navy, built using ancient Indian shipbuilding techniques in which wooden planks are stitched together with coir rope and sealed using natural resins.
Inspired by a 5th century CE ship depiction in the Ajanta Caves, the vessel represents a revival of India’s historic maritime knowledge and traditional ocean-going shipbuilding practices.
The successful voyage across the Arabian Sea to Oman demonstrated the operational capability of traditionally constructed stitched vessels without modern structural reinforcements.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, commended the crew for their extraordinary dedication and professionalism in sailing a traditionally constructed stitched vessel across the Arabian Sea.
He underscored the immense hard work involved from conceptualisation and research to design, traditional construction, crew training and execution of the voyage.
Operating a square-sailed, stitched wooden vessel without modern structural reinforcements required exceptional planning, seamanship, teamwork, and endurance, making the successful completion of the expedition a remarkable achievement for the Indian Navy.
INSV Kaundinya was inducted into the Indian Navy in May 2025 and named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, symbolising India’s historic seafaring traditions and civilisational linkages across the Indian Ocean.
