Indian Navy to induct world's only 'stitched ship'

New Delhi: 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.

A recreation of a 5th century vessel shown in a painting from the Ajanta Caves, it would be inducted at a ceremony at Karwar on Wednesday, officials said here.

The 'stitched ship' is a type of wooden boat which is “carvel” built with the planks stitched together with ropes, a technique popular in ancient India for constructing ocean going vessels prior to the advent of metallic fasteners.

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.

The construction of the ship – a collaboration between the Union Ministry of Culture, Indian Navy, IIT Madras and a private firm Goa – began nearly 22 months ago. It was launched in water in February.

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 hull geometry, rigging and sails were reimagined, recreated and finally the vessel was tested at the department of ocean engineering at IIT Madras to check how it will behave at sea.

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

Special care was taken to ensure the ship balanced 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 successful completion of the construction of the ancient stitched ship represents the completion of the first and most formidable phase, bringing to life, from an artistic depiction, a fully functional sea-going vessel,” the official said.