Indian Navy to acquire ancient stitched ship

Mumbai: Aiming to recreate the country’s rich naval heritage, the Indian Navy is set to induct a “stitched ship” handcrafted by traditional boat makers with support from the navy and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, bringing back a 2000 year old technology to life.

The stitched ship is a recreation of a 5th century CE ship, inspired by a painting from the Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra.

In boatbuilding, "carvel" refers to a method of construction where hull planks are laid edge-to-edge and fastened to a frame, creating a smooth, continuous surface.

Post induction, the navy will sail the vessel to navigate traditional maritime trade routes, reviving the spirit of ancient Indian seafaring. “The preparations for the vessel’s maiden transoceanic voyage from Gujarat to Oman are already underway,” said an official.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister for Culture, will preside over the induction ceremony.

The project was formally initiated through a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, with funding from the Ministry of Culture.

The keel was laid by Meenakshi Lekhi, the then Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, GoI on September 12, 2023 at Hodi Innovations, Goa in the presence of former navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, CNS and Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisor Council to the PM and dignitaries from the Ministry of Culture and Indian Navy.

The ship was launched in February 2025 at the Hodi Shipyard in Goa.

With no surviving blueprints or physical remnants, the ship’s design was extrapolated from a two-dimensional image.

The boat makers – led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran from Kerala – combined archaeological interpretation, naval architecture, hydrodynamic testing and traditional craftsmanship.

Unlike any modern vessel, the stitched ship is equipped with square sails and steering oars, which are entirely alien to modern-day ships.

The Indian Navy has overseen the entire spectrum of implementation of this project, including concept development, design, technical validation and construction in collaboration with Hodi Innovations and traditional artisans. The design and construction posed unique technical challenges.

With no surviving blueprints or physical remnants, the design had to be extrapolated from a two-dimensional artistic iconography. The project demanded a unique interdisciplinary approach, combining archaeological interpretation, naval architecture, hydrodynamic testing and traditional craftsmanship.

Unlike any modern vessel, the stitched ship is equipped with square sails and steering oars, which are entirely alien to modern-day ships. The hull geometry, rigging and sails had to be reimagined and tested from first principles.

The Indian Navy collaborated with the Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, to conduct model testing to validate the vessel’s hydrodynamic behaviour at sea.

Further, the Indian Navy undertook an in-house structural analysis to assess the wooden mast system, designed and constructed without the use of contemporary materials.

Every aspect of the ship had to balance historical authenticity with seaworthiness, leading to design choices that were both innovative and true to the maritime traditions of ancient India. The combination of a stitched hull, square sails, wooden spars, and traditional steering mechanisms makes the vessel unlike any ship currently in naval service anywhere in the world.

“The completion of the stitched ship construction not only reaffirms India’s rich shipbuilding legacy but also reflects the Indian Navy’s commitment to preserving and operationalising the living traditions of India’s maritime heritage,” an Indian Navy spokesperson said.