Overview
- The handstitched Indian Navy vessel arrived in Muscat on January 14 to a water salute and a formal reception attended by Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Omani heritage officials, the Royal Navy of Oman, and the Indian Embassy.
- The ship departed Porbandar on December 29, covering roughly 650 nautical miles with a crew of four officers and 13 sailors led by Commander Vikas Sheoran, with Commander Y Hemant Kumar as officer-in-charge.
- Built without nails by Kerala artisans led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran, the 65‑foot vessel uses coir rope, coconut fibre and natural resin and was launched in Goa in February 2025.
- The Navy oversaw design and safety validation, inferring the hull and rig from Ajanta Caves imagery and conducting hydrodynamic model tests at IIT Madras.
- Conceived by Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal, who sailed on the voyage, the expedition was framed as a revival of ancient India–Oman maritime ties as the countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.