Muscat welcomes Indian naval vessel

After 18 days of voyage from the port of Porbandar in the Indian state of Gujarat, the INSV Kaundinya dropped anchor at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat on Wednesday.
A grand reception was arranged for the arrival of the Indian naval vessel, a recreation of a 5th-century Indian stitched ship that embarked on its maiden voyage from Porbandar to Muscat, retracing the ancient maritime routes that once connected the western coast of India with the Arabian Peninsula.
The reception was held under the auspices of Azzan bin Qasim al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, in the presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India.
A large Indian community from all walks of life, including students, enthusiastically welcomed the ship. Traditional Omani and Indian cultural performances were held during the official welcome of the ship.
The vessel relies solely on wind power, with no mechanical engines, and solar energy for communication equipment and navigation lights.

In his address during the reception held at the Port Sultan Qaboos, Sonowal commended the visionary leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, under whom Oman is witnessing impressive progress and modernisation. 'There is a strong synergy between the long-term visions of our two nations. As India works towards building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, Oman is progressing steadily under Oman Vision 2040,' he said.
The ship draws inspiration from a 5th-century vessel depicted in the Ajanta caves and is named after the legendary Indian sailor Kaundinya, considered to be India's first mariner, who is known to have sailed to Southeast Asia.
The visit marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of India, which are witnessing significant and growing development in various fields — particularly in economic integration, which serves as a fundamental pillar aligning with the shared ambitions and aspirations of both countries.
Captain Saleh bin Said al Jabri, Captain of the Jewel of Muscat, explained that the arrival of the Indian Navy sailing vessel 'Kaundinya' emulates the history that has linked Oman and India for thousands of years through the use of traditional sailing ships navigating by monsoon winds, which fostered the growth of commercial and social ties between them.
For his part, Commander Visas Sheoran, Skipper of the INSV Kaundinya, said the ship will remain in Oman for twenty days to undergo necessary maintenance work before its return journey to India.
The voyage is the first to Oman for Kaundinya that serves as a symbol of a shared maritime history. The vessel draws its design inspiration from the vessels that traversed the Indian Ocean in ancient times, linking Omani ports to the western coast of India.
The event was attended by several officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Royal Navy of Oman, and the Royal Oman Police.