New Delhi: The Indian Navy is set to induct and unveil the name of the Ancient Stitched Ship during a ceremonial event on May 21 at the Karwar Naval Base. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will preside over the event as the Chief Guest to oversee the formal induction.
This unique vessel is a recreation of a 5th-century CE ship, based on imagery from the Ajanta Caves, and constructed using the traditional stitching method where planks are sewn together, which is an ancient Indian shipbuilding technique. The ship features square sails and steering oars, representing a rare engineering feat in today’s naval context.
“#IndianNavy to induct & name the Ancient Stitched Ship on #21May at Naval Base, Karwar. Reconstructed from a 5th century Ajanta painting, the ship was built using the ancient technique of stitching, with square sails & steering oars. A rare feat in our modern shipbuilding history,” the Indian Navy said in an X post.
The project was formally initiated with a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, with funding support from the Culture Ministry. Keel laying took place on September 12, 2023, and the vessel was launched in February 2025 at the Hodi Shipyard in Goa.
The ship was handcrafted using traditional materials and techniques by skilled artisans from Kerala. Master shipwright Babu Sankaran led the team of artisans. He meticulously stitched thousands of joints by hand.
The Indian Navy supervised every phase of the project—from conceptualisation and design to construction—in collaboration with Hodi Innovations and local craftsmen. The reconstruction process was particularly challenging as there was the lack of original blueprints or physical artifacts. Designers had to rely on two-dimensional artistic representations, demanding an interdisciplinary approach combining archaeology, naval engineering, oceanography, and traditional craftsmanship.
The ship’s hull form, rigging, and sail plan were developed from scratch. The Indian Navy collaborated with IIT Madras’ Department of Ocean Engineering for model testing and conducted internal structural evaluations of the wooden mast system, which was built without modern materials.
Achieving both historical authenticity and seaworthiness, the vessel stands apart from any modern ship in naval service today. Its completion marks the success of the project’s first phase—turning a historical painting into a fully operational sea vessel.
“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 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 Defence Ministry said in a statement.
In the next phase, the Indian Navy will attempt a voyage along ancient maritime trade routes, with preparations underway for a journey from Gujarat to Oman, celebrating and reviving India’s age-old maritime spirit.
This project not only highlights India’s rich shipbuilding heritage but also underlines the Navy’s dedication to preserving and bringing to life the nation’s maritime traditions.
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