The Indian Navy’s first stitched sailing vessel, INSV Kaundinya, started its maiden voyage from Porbandar to Oman on December 29, 2025. This 19.6-metre-long ship was crafted by Babu Sankaran, a 61-year-old carpenter from Vadakara, Kozhikode district. Along with 20 skilled carpenters from Malabar, Sankaran used traditional stitched-plank techniques to build the ship using coconut coir ropes and natural resins. The project began in December 2023 and was completed in 16 months at a shipyard in Goa under Navy supervision. Wood and materials were sourced from a timber industry in Alakode, Kannur district. The vessel carries cultural features like sails painted with the mythical Gandabherunda bird and the Sun, a bow with a Simha Yali sculpture, and a Harappan-style stone anchor on deck. INSV Kaundinya honors the legendary mariner Kaundinya, who reportedly sailed from India to Southeast Asia in ancient times. The ship was inducted into service on May 21, 2025, and will be based in Karwar. “This was a dream come true,” said Mr. Sankaran. “I had to leave school after Class V, but building this ship with the Navy was a lifetime achievement. Sadly, few new carpenters enter this field today.” The vessel was built as part of a tripartite MoU between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and M/S Hodi Innovations. This project aims to revive India's indigenous shipbuilding traditions and celebrate its maritime heritage.