**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Defence reports on the successful completion of the maiden overseas voyage of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya from Oman to Mumbai. Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth flagged in the vessel on March 02, 2026, highlighting its significance in reviving India's ancient maritime knowledge and inspiring youth. The voyage underscored courage, resilience, and a spirit of rediscovery.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Vessel Information:**
* INSV Kaundinya is a traditionally constructed, stitched sailing vessel of the Indian Navy.
* It is 20 meters long and inspired by a 5th-century CE depiction from the Ajanta Caves.
* The vessel utilizes ancient Indian shipbuilding techniques, including stitching wooden planks with coir rope and sealing with natural resins.
* It represents a revival of India's rich maritime heritage and historic seafaring traditions.
* INSV Kaundinya was inducted into the Navy in May 2025 and named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya.
* **Maiden Overseas Voyage:**
* The vessel successfully completed its maiden overseas voyage to Muscat, Oman.
* It returned to Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on March 02, 2026, where it was flagged in.
* The voyage across the Arabian Sea required exceptional planning, seamanship, teamwork, and endurance.
* **Significance and Inspiration:**
* The voyage is highlighted as a revival of India's ancient maritime knowledge systems.
* It is intended to serve as an inspiration to the youth of the country.
* The voyage emphasized courage, resilience, and a spirit of rediscovery.
* Young Indians are encouraged to embrace adventure and innovation rooted in civilisational confidence.
* **Commendations and Event:**
* Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan commended the crew for their dedication and professionalism.
* The crew's hard work from conceptualization and research to design, construction, training, and execution was underscored.
* The ceremonial entry in Mumbai included a colorful parade of sails and a traditional water arc salute.
* The event symbolized pride in India's maritime heritage and admiration for the crew's achievement.
* **Attendees:**
* Consul General of the Sultanate of Oman Mr Mahboob Issa Alraisi was present.
* Other attendees included senior officers, veterans, representatives from Hodi Innovations, members of civil society, the maritime community, historians, and sailing enthusiasts.
**Impact Analysis**
**Youth**
* **Impact:** Encouraged to embrace adventure and innovation rooted in civilisational confidence.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly mentioned, but implied to be inspired by the voyage.
**Indian Navy**
* **Impact:** Successful completion of a historic maiden voyage for a traditionally constructed vessel, showcasing advanced planning, seamanship, and teamwork. Represents a revival of maritime heritage.
* **Action Required:** Continue to uphold and promote India's maritime traditions and knowledge systems.
**Maritime Community and Historians**
* **Impact:** Recognition and admiration for the successful execution of a voyage using ancient shipbuilding techniques, contributing to the understanding and celebration of India's maritime heritage.
* **Action Required:** Continued engagement with and support of such historical and traditional maritime endeavors.
Key Entities Referenced
INSV Kaundinya: A traditionally constructed stitched sailing vessel of the Indian Navy, central to the event described.
Raksha Rajya Mantri: The government official who flagged in the vessel and addressed the gathering.
Shri Sanjay Seth: The specific Raksha Rajya Mantri mentioned in the document.
Oman: The destination of the INSV Kaundinya's maiden overseas voyage.
Mumbai: The location where the vessel was flagged in.
Ministry of Defence
Raksha Rajya Mantri flags-in INSV Kaundinya
following successful completion of its maiden
overseas voyage to Oman
Shri Sanjay Seth encourages youth to embrace adventure &
innovation rooted in civilisational confidence
Posted On: 02 MAR 2026 6:38PM by PIB Delhi
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, on March 02, 2026, flagged-in to Naval Dockyard, Mumbai,
Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya, a traditionally constructed stitched sailing vessel of the
Indian Navy, which has returned home after the successful completion of her historic maiden overseas
voyage to Muscat, Oman. Addressing the gathering, Raksha Rajya Mantri highlighted the national
significance of the project, stating that INSV Kaundinya represented the revival of India’s ancient
maritime knowledge systems and would serve as an inspiration to the youth of the country. He
underscored the courage, resilience, and the spirit of rediscovery reflected by the voyage, encouraging
young Indians to embrace adventure and innovation rooted in civilisational confidence.Speaking on the occasion, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command Vice Admiral
Krishna Swaminathan 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.
As INSV Kaundinya made her ceremonial entry, she was welcomed with a colourful parade of sails and a
traditional water arc salute, creating a spectacular and emotionally charged atmosphere in the harbour. The
event symbolised both pride in India’s maritime heritage and admiration for the crew’s accomplishment.Consul General of the Sultanate of Oman Mr Mahboob Issa Alraisi in Mumbai, senior officers, veterans,
representatives from Hodi Innovations, eminent members of civil society, members of the maritime
community, historians and sailing enthusiasts were present on the occasion.
INSV Kaundinya is a 20-metre, traditionally constructed stitched sailing vessel of the Indian Navy,
inspired by a 5th century CE depiction from the Ajanta Caves. Built using ancient Indian shipbuilding
techniques in which wooden planks are stitched together with coir rope and sealed with natural resins, the
vessel represents a revival of India’s rich maritime heritage. Inducted into the Navy in May 2025 and
named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, she symbolises India’s historic seafaring traditions and
civilisational linkages across the Indian Ocean.
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VK/VM/Savvy
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