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On May 21, 2025, the Indian Navy will hold a ceremonial ceremony at the Naval Base in Karwar to induct and reveal the Ancient Stitched Ship’s name. As the main guest, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Minister of Culture, will preside over the event. This ship’s official induction into the Indian Navy will take place with its launch.

This replica of a ship from the fifth century CE was inspired by a picture found in the Ajanta Caves. The Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and M/s Hodi Innovations inked a tripartite agreement in July 2023 to officially launch the project, according to the Defense Ministry. Additionally, it has been disclosed that the Ministry of Culture provided the finance for this ship.

But the Stitched Ship’s keel was laid on September 12, 2023, and it was launched at the Hodi Shipyard in Goa in February 2025.

In more details regarding this colossal vessel, the Defense Ministry said that the Stitched Ship was built via conventional techniques. Keralan craftsmen, under the direction of master shipwright Shri Babu Sankaran, created this form out of raw materials by hand-stitching thousands of joints.

In cooperation with M/s Hodi Innovations and traditional craftspeople, the Indian Navy has managed all aspects of this project’s execution, including concept creation, design, technical validation, and building. “The Stitched ship is a unique vessel built using wood, coir, and natural resin,” the Indian Navy spokesman said on their official X account. In front of the Indian Navy, shipyard workers, and traditional craftspeople, a customary ceremony was held. The history of shipbuilding in India is shown by this launch.

There were significant technical challenges in the design and construction of this vessel. This vessel’s design had to be recreated using two-dimensional visual images since there were no surviving blueprints or tangible remnants. A unique interdisciplinary approach was needed for the project, combining traditional craftsmanship, hydrodynamic testing, naval design, and archaeological interpretation. But unlike any contemporary ship, the stitched ship has steering oars and square sails, which are entirely out of place on contemporary ships.

Additionally, the Indian Navy stated that the ship’s sails, rigging, and hull shape required being entirely reconstructed and tested from the ground up. In order to verify the vessel’s hydrodynamic behavior at sea, they also conducted model testing in collaboration with the Department of Ocean Engineering at IIT Madras.

In addition, the Indian Navy evaluated the wooden mast system—which was designed and constructed without the use of contemporary materials—through an internal structural examination.

Seaworthiness and historical accuracy had to be balanced in every part of the ship, which resulted in creative design decisions that were also loyal to old Indian maritime customs. It is unlike any ship in naval service today, anywhere in the world, thanks to its stitched hull, square sails, wooden spars, and conventional steering gear. The Ancient Stitched Ship’s successful completion signifies the completion of a fully operational seagoing vessel.

The project will go into its second phase after the induction. The Indian Navy will tackle the vessel during the second phase.